Japan: More and more are out protesting Kishida administration’s appalling attack on minority rights
Tokyo, 5th August 2024 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article
“Firmly Opposed to the Japanese Government’s Request for a Dissolution Order” – Demonstration in Fukuoka
by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
Prepared by Knut Holdhus
On 4th August 2024, the citizens’ group “Fukuoka Prefectural Association for the Protection of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedom of Religion” held a symposium in the city, claiming that the government’s request for a dissolution order for the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) was unjust. About 1,500 people participated, and after the symposium, about 1,200 of them marched in a street demonstration.
The association’s representative, Koji Takashima (高島幸司), called out, “Despite no court ruling, Fukuoka City has decided not to lend public facilities to the Family Federation, treating it like an anti-social organization. This is religious discrimination against us believers who have lived in Fukuoka for decades.”
International lawyer Tatsuki Nakayama (中山達樹), who pointed out that the Family Federation does not meet the requirements for a dissolution request, encouraged the attendees by saying,
“It will take about two more years for the court to rule on the dissolution request. There are two types of people: those who do things moderately and those who go all out. If you all work to the point where you feel you can’t do any more during these two years, you will definitely be able to change the current situation.”
Shingo Inoue (井上真吾), a member of the Kitakyushu City Council, also attended and said, “As one of the council members who declared a severance of relations with the Family Federation in December of the year before last (2022), I stood up to offer an apology and support to the Family Federation believers who are actually in trouble.”
This statement was met with loud applause from the audience.
After the symposium, believers who participated in the street demonstration marched around the bustling area near Fukuoka City Hall, protesting, “We firmly oppose the Japanese government’s request for a dissolution order.”
If the Family Federation is dissolved as a religious corporation, all employees will lose their jobs, all assets will be seized, and believers will lose their places of worship, significantly restricting their faith.
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Featured image above: Participants in a demonstration march near Fukuoka City Hall under the scorching sun on the afternoon of the 4th August 2024, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Photo: Kennosuke Teraguchi (寺口賢之介)