Hearings on Unification Church Dissolution Order to End in Nov.

Tokyo, Oct. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese court hearings are expected to end in November over an order to dissolve the Unification Church, which allegedly inspired the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe three years ago. Tokyo High Court is examining an appeal against the order filed in April by the controversial religious group officially called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. The court plans to conclude the hearings next month, sources said. The group is approaching a key juncture because the disbandment order, issued by Tokyo District Court in March, would take effect immediately if the high court backs the lower court decision. Defendant Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, accused of murdering Abe in the July 2022 shooting, had said he was motivated by a grudge against the Unification Church, of which his mother was a follower. This raised public awareness of the issue of massive donations to the group by believers and shed light on its ties with conservative Japanese politicians. The culture ministry asked the district court in October 2023 to order the Unification Church to dissolve. This resulted in Japan’s first court order to disband a religious group for committing illegal acts under the Civil Code. So far, the high court has held closed hearings four times. According to the Unification Church, the fourth session examined testimony by two believers as requested by the group. Of the two, a South Korean national in her 50s who married a Japanese man at a mass wedding organized by the group claimed that she was discriminated against after the shooting. The other witness, a Unification Church staff worker in his 30s, showed concern that defamation of believers will escalate after the disbandment order. Informed sources said that the high court asked both sides to submit final written arguments by Nov. 21, which means that the appeal proceedings will end soon. The court may give its judgment early next year. If the court upholds the disbandment order, the process to liquidate the Unification Church will start immediately. The group can continue activities as an unincorporated association, but it must dispose of properties, including facilities for worship, and it will be unable to receive tax benefits. To prevent the group from hiding its assets, the ministry on Oct 20 adopted guidelines for the liquidation process for religious corporations subject to stricter asset monitoring. The guidelines are not legally binding, but they allow criminal and civil liability to be pursued in the event of obstruction of liquidators or concealment of assets. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]