Kitakyushu City Council’s resolution challenged in an appeal case about blatant religious discrimination
Tokyo, 18th March 2025 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article.
Appeal Trial for Kitakyushu City Council’s “Severance of Ties” Concludes
Family Federation’s Legal Representative Confident in Reversal of Court’s Decision
by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo
Prepared by Knut Holdhus
The appeal trial for a lawsuit filed by the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) and its followers concluded on 17th March. The lawsuit challenges the Kitakyushu City Council’s December 2022 resolution to sever ties with the federation, arguing that it constitutes discrimination against a specific religion. In the first trial, the plaintiffs’ claim was dismissed.
Attorney Shinichi Tokunaga (徳永信一), representing the plaintiffs, held a press conference, stating, “The Kitakyushu City Council passed the resolution based on the premise, as reported by the media, that the Family Federation is an ‘anti-social organization’. However, last month, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who, like the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (安倍晋三), sent a message to a Universal Peace Federation (UPF) event – a group affiliated with the Family Federation – was inaugurated as the U.S. president. Additionally, Vice President Vance also delivered a speech at a related organization’s conference.”
He further remarked, “Paula White, who respects the Family Federation’s leader, President Hak Ja Han, has been appointed to the newly established Office of Faith-Based Initiatives in the U.S. These figures recognize the Family Federation not as an anti-social group, but as a remarkable organization contributing to world peace.”
Attorney Tokunaga expressed confidence in overturning the previous ruling, stating that the label of the former Unification Church as an “anti-social organization” is being dismantled. The court’s decision is scheduled for 12th May.
Featured image above: Attorney Shinichi Tokunaga (徳永信一), here at the Tokyo press conference on 31st January 2025. Photo: Takahide Ishii (石井孝秀) / Sekai Nippo