Tokyo Court Orders Dissolution of Unification Church Over Fundraising Abuses

The Unification Church plans to appeal the landmark ruling, arguing it infringes on religious freedom, as scrutiny over its practices and political ties continues.

• The Tokyo District Court has revoked the Unification Church's legal status, citing manipulative fundraising practices and a failure to reform.
• The church will lose its tax-exempt privileges and face financial scrutiny, with its assets subject to liquidation under the ruling.
• The decision follows investigations triggered by the 2022 assassination of Shinzo Abe, which exposed the church's deep ties to Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
• The church, founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon, has vowed to appeal the ruling, framing it as an attack on religious freedom.
• This marks only the third dissolution of a religious organization in Japan, setting a historic precedent for accountability in religious institutions.

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Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Japan Times