Japan Court Orders Unification Church Dissolution After Abe Assassination

A Japanese court has ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church, known as the 'Moonies', in response to its ties to the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 and ongoing allegations of financial exploitation and manipulative practices. The ruling, issued by the Tokyo District Court, revokes the church's tax-exempt status and mandates the liquidation of its assets, though the organization can still operate and plans to appeal the decision. The assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, claimed his actions were motivated by the church's financial demands that led to his family's bankruptcy. This court order follows a formal petition by Japan's Ministry of Education, which identified the church's coercive fundraising tactics as harmful to followers. The church has described the ruling as unfair and argues that it reflects misinformation surrounding their practices. The case has sparked significant public outrage and scrutiny over the church's long-standing ties with Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.