Japanese Pm Kishida Orders Probe Into Former Unification Church
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has instructed the culture minister to launch an investigation into the former Unification Church based on "the right to ask questions" under the Religious Corporations Act.
It will be the first time for the government to exercise the right.
The religious group is coming under scrutiny for alleged shady marketing practices and solicitation of large donations from members.
An advisory panel had urged the government to use the act to disband the corporation or launch an investigation before taking such action.
Kishida said in an NHK interview on Friday that there's a need to consider a strict response.
He met Culture Minister Nagaoka Keiko on Monday morning, and told her to open the probe into the group based on the right to question stipulated in the law.
The provision allows the culture ministry and prefectural governments to request reports and question executives of religious corporations suspected of violating laws.
It was added to the law in 1996, following a series of incidents involving the Aum Shinrikyo cult, including the deadly 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system.
Nagaoka told reporters that she will swiftly carry out Kishida's instructions.