FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2025
PRESS CONTACT:
Ron Lucas
rlucas@irvingstreetrep.org
973-643-6262
Japanese Court Dissolves Religious Organization Without Criminal Charges
U.S. Religious Leader: “This is a turning point for Japan’s democratic identity”
New York, NY — A Tokyo court has approved the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in Japan (FFWPU Japan), marking the first time in Japan’s postwar history that a peaceful religious organization has been dismantled without any criminal conviction.
The ruling follows a government petition citing civil complaints—some dating back decades. In 2022, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Technology (MEXT) confirmed that no criminal law had been broken by the organization. Nonetheless, the court sided with the state, triggering concern among religious freedom advocates worldwide.
“This is a turning point for Japan’s democratic identity—and a warning for every society that cherishes freedom of faith,” said Rev. Demian Dunkley, President of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification USA.
“We are preparing our appeal, and we will not stop until this injustice is overturned.”
The U.S. State Department, in its 2023 International Religious Freedom Report, noted that Japan’s approach “marked a deviation from the norm” in how democratic nations handle religious organizations.
Global observers have raised concern about the wider implications of the case. Human rights groups and constitutional scholars have called attention to the potential chilling effect on faith-based organizations in Japan and beyond.
The Family Federation has launched a global petition calling on world leaders to stand up for religious freedom. To date, over 110,000 people from 134 countries have signed in support.