Lawyers Seek Court Order To Disband Former Unification Church
A group of Japanese lawyers is asking the government to seek a court order to disband the former Unification Church. It's an action that has only been taken twice in Japan.
If an order is issued, religious organizations must disband. They would not be entitled to tax benefits, but they could still operate as a religious entity.
The lawyers' group filed the request with the culture and justice ministers. They are acting in support of former followers of the religious organization.
Kawai Yasuo with National Network of Lawyers against Spiritual Sales said, "The group has not reflected on its practices despite engaging in illegal donation collection schemes and illicit missionary work, causing people to lose hundreds of billions of yen."
A constitutional scholar says the government has only sought a disband order twice.
One involved the Aum Shinrikyo cult, which launched a deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995.
Kyushu University Professor Minamino Shigeru said, "I think the government should reconsider its standards on whether it is appropriate to deal with religious groups that do not cause crimes like murder, but are causing people very serious financial problems."
The former Unification Church has been in the spotlight since the death of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. His alleged killer believed Abe was linked to the group, which he claimed bankrupted his family. The church has been accused of demanding large donations from its followers.