Asia: Japan: Prime Minister orders an investigation into the Moon sect

Posted17 October 2022, 04:44

Asia: Japan: Prime Minister orders an investigation into the Moon sect

Fumio Kishida on Monday ordered an investigation into the Unification Church, a religious group that has come under increased scrutiny since the assassination of Shinzo Abe.

Fumio Kishida on October 9, 2022.

AFP

The alleged assassin of Shinzo Abe, Tetsuya Yamagami, resented this organization nicknamed “Moon sect”, to which his mother would have made important donations, leading their family to ruin. The suspect also believed that the former Prime Minister was close to the sect.

The group has denied any wrongdoing, but many former members have publicly criticized the practices of the Moon sect, which is accused of imposing donation targets on its followers, and revelations regarding its ties to prominent political figures in Japan. contributed to lowering the popularity rating of Fumio Kishida’s government.

The Prime Minister “asked me to exercise our right to investigate the Unification Church,” Education and Culture Minister Keiko Nagaoka told reporters, adding: “I will get to it immediately.”

Fumio Kishida was also set to speak on the matter on Monday, but local media has previously reported that the investigation will focus on whether the Unification Church has harmed public welfare or committed acts inconsistent with its status. of religious group.

The investigation might result in a dissolution order under the Religious Organizations Act, which would cause the Moon sect to lose that status, as well as its tax exemption, but it might continue to operate.

According to Japanese media, only two religious groups in Japan have ever been targeted by such an order, one of which is the Aum Shinrikyo sect, which carried out the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995. The Japanese government would, however, hesitate to use such a measure, for fear of infringing on freedom of worship.

(AFP)