A Japanese court has ordered the disbandment of the controversial Unification Church over its connection to the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The shock killing of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 brought the church under scrutiny.
During his interrogation by the authorities, the alleged assassin confessed that he held a grievance against Abe simply because of the former prime minister’s ties with the church.
The suspect blamed the church for bankrupting his family, and for this reason, the country’s education and culture ministry sought the church’s dissolution.
They accused the worship center, among other things, of manipulating members into making huge donations and other financial sacrifices.
But the church, more popularly known as the “Moonies,” insisted that the donations were part of legitimate religious activities.
The church can appeal to overturn the ruling, which was delivered on Tuesday.
The order was issued by a Tokyo district court and is meant to strip the church of its tax-exempt status and require it to liquidate its assets.
During their investigation, authorities found that the church coerced followers into buying expensive items by exploiting fears about their spiritual well-being.
The Unification Church, which was started in South Korea, has established a presence in Japan since the 1960s. The name “Moonies” was derived from the name of its founder, Sun Myung Moon.
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