Japan's Supreme Court upholds dissolution of Unification Church

Japan's Supreme Court has ratified the dissolution of the controversial Unification Church, widely known as the 'Moonies,' labeling the measure "necessary and inevitable." A panel at the nation's highest judicial body unanimously supported the dissolution order, citing the organization's practice of demanding excessive and malicious donations from its members, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo.

The ruling, initially issued Monday but publicly announced Tuesday, stems from decades of controversy surrounding the church, which was founded in South Korea in 1954. In Japan, the group faced persistent accusations of financially exploiting its members.

Public scrutiny intensified significantly after the July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The assailant, Tetsuya Yamagami, claimed the Unification Church had bankrupted his mother and ruined his family. He targeted Abe, alleging the former leader had ties to the organization.

In the wake of Abe's assassination, Japan launched an investigation into the Unification Church's activities. This investigation led to the revocation of the church's tax benefits as a religious organization and ultimately resulted in the judicial decision to dissolve the group.