Unification Church Appeals Court Ruling for Dissolution in Japan

The Unification Church has filed an appeal with the Tokyo High Court against a recent district court ruling that ordered its dissolution due to illegal solicitation practices that caused significant harm to its members. The Tokyo District Court's decision, made on March 25, labeled the church's donation practices as malicious and unprecedentedly damaging, leading to a request from the government for the organization to disband. Church leaders criticized the ruling, asserting it violates religious freedom, while legal experts expressed concern that the church might transfer assets to evade financial restitution for victims. Following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, investigations revealed connections between the church and lawmakers, intensifying scrutiny on the organization. If the dissolution order is upheld, the church will lose its tax-exempt status but can still conduct religious practices. The church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, has a controversial history marked by aggressive fundraising tactics since its inception in 1954.