A Japanese high court upholds an order to dissolve the controversial Unification Church, rejecting its appeal and clearing the way for the ruling to take immediate effect.
The Tokyo High Court backs a lower court decision issued last year that orders the religious group disbanded after Japan’s education and culture ministry accuses it of manipulating followers into making massive donations.
The Unification Church widely known as the “Moonies” argues that the donations are legitimate religious activities, but the court rejects that claim on Wednesday.
The group comes under intense scrutiny following the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. His killer, Tetsuya Yamagami, says he targets Abe over alleged ties to the church, blaming it for financially ruining his family through excessive donations.
Yamagami, 45, receives a life sentence in January and has since appealed.
The dissolution order the first ever issued against a religious organisation in Japan strips the church of its tax-exempt status and requires it to liquidate its assets, though it can still operate in the country in some form. With the latest appeal denied, the order takes effect immediately, according to local media reports. The church can still take the case to Japan’s Supreme Court.
Founded by the late Sun Myung Moon, who followers revere as a messiah, the church has long drawn criticism for its teachings and fundraising practices.
Investigations launched after Abe’s assassination reveal close ties between the organisation and several conservative lawmakers. Authorities also find evidence that the church pressures followers into purchasing expensive items by exploiting fears over their spiritual well-being.
The ruling marks a major legal and political turning point in Japan’s oversight of religious groups, with wider implications for church-state relations and financial transparency.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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