Empowering the Heavenly Parent Holy Community
... One of the most radical forms of interference with the collective aspect of freedom of religion is the dissolution of an existing religious organization. Such a drastic measure requires very serious reasons by way…
... To dissolve an organization comprising a large number of employees and believers through nonpublic proceedings represents a serious structural defect in the system.
A dissolution order is more than a mere act of legal enforcement; it constitutes a fundamental denial of the dignity of the religion in question... For hundreds of thousands of believers, this means that the…
... Over 7,000 Protestant leaders rallied at the National Assembly on April 1 to protest a proposed law allowing the government to dissolve religious groups and seize assets. Critics warn the bill—framed as targeting specific…
The Japanese High Court’s ruling has escalated the threat to religious liberty. By attacking the movement’s theology and endorsing "mind control" theories, the court has provided militant lawyers with a legal precedent to attempt to…
... In Japan, when a religious corporation is dissolved, its assets, including places of worship and bank accounts, are transferred to a liquidator. Believers are thus deprived of the material preconditions to enjoy the freedom…
Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist of religion, is examining the court case against the Family Federation in Japan. He argues that the proceedings are unlawful and one-sided in their treatment of the organization.
... The High Court’s bias is evident in its cavalier reliance on settlements to determine guilt. The Church has been dissolved without any criminal conviction. Overriding previous case law, civil decisions, and settlements were deemed…
... The Tokyo High Court’s decision, by embracing the language of “psychological influence,” crosses a line that democratic societies have long recognized as dangerous. The consequences will extend far beyond the Unification Church unless this…
... Many religious figures have remained silent for the past four years out of fear of being branded as part of a “cult”. Even among legal professionals, some choose to look the other way.