A Japanese court has ordered the Unification Church to lose its official recognition, impacting its tax-exempt status and prompting asset liquidation. This decision follows an investigation linked to the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, attributed to grievances over his political ties with the church. The church, founded in South Korea and known for its controversial practices, condemned the ruling as a violation of religious freedom. The move is unprecedented in Japan, where legal restrictions on religious entities are generally stringent due to historical oppression concerns.
The court's decision marks a significant shift in Japan's legal stance toward religious organizations, primarily citing the Unification Church's manipulation of its followers as reason for revocation.
The church's ties with conservative politicians, especially following the assassination of Shinzo Abe, brought its practices under scrutiny, leading Tokyo's District Court to uphold the government's revocation request.
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