NHK has learned that the Tokyo District Court has summoned Japan’s education and culture ministry and a religious group formerly known as the Unification Church to the court on Tuesday. The court is expected to present its decision on whether to disband the group.
The ministry requested the court to issue a dissolution order based on the Religious Corporations Act in 2023. It cited the group’s practices of collecting massive donations from its followers and often inducing them to buy expensive items by exploiting fears about their spiritual wellbeing.
The hearings ended after both sides submitted documents compiling their closing arguments in January.
Ministry officials interviewed more than 170 people who say they or their families were victimized by the religious group’s alleged controversial practices. They concluded that the group continuously received a substantial amount of donations over a long period of time, forcing its followers to make financial and mental sacrifices.
The group argued that its activities do not meet the criteria for a dissolution order. It said receiving donations is part of its religious activities, and it no longer conducts recruitment activities by hiding its identity after it took measures in 2009 to step up its compliance.
This is the third time that a Japanese government ministry or agency has sought the dissolution of a religious group for violating laws.
The two previous cases were the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which carried out a deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995, and the Myokakuji group, whose top executive was convicted of fraud. The latest request is the first case filed based on illegal acts under the Civil Code.
If the dissolution order is issued, the former Unification Church will lose its status as a religious corporation, have to dispose of its assets and become unable to receive tax benefits. But it would still be allowed to continue religious activities.
AloJapan.com