Victims of the Moon Sect in Japan celebrate its dissolution
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Families of victims expressed deep satisfaction after a Japanese court ruled to “legally dissolve” the Unification Church, formerly known as the Moon Sect. Many now plan to seek financial compensation, while the group has vowed to appeal.
Speaking to Japanese reporters in the southern city of Kochi, a woman in her 30s could not hide her joy and relief after the ruling was announced March 25. Her parents had donated several hundred thousand euros to the sect, which was rebranded as the Unification Church years ago and remains banned in France.
“This was never an organization that should have received tax benefits as a religious entity,” she told the Jiji Press news agency, welcoming the court’s decision.
Legal dissolution but continued activity
In October 2023, the Japanese government petitioned the court to revoke the church’s status as a religious organization. The ruling stripped the group of its tax exemptions, but under Japanese law, it can continue operating—hence the term “legal dissolution.” The move followed a government investigation triggered by the July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“For the family I’ve supported for years while trying to free their son from the sect’s grip, this is an enormous relief,” said a foreign priest who has witnessed the organization’s coercive control tactics. “In cities across Japan, many parents and children of victims must finally feel recognized.” He requested anonymity, fearing retaliation from sect members. “And they may now be able to seek financial compensation.”
Content retrieved from: https://international.la-croix.com/religion/victims-of-the-moon-sect-in-japan-celebrate-its-dissolution.
