Japan's Supreme Court on June 19 upheld a controversial dissolution order against the Unification Church, a religious group, calling the action 'necessary and unavoidable'. The ruling came after the group appealed a lower court's decision mandating its dissolution.
The Supreme Court stated that the Unification Church's activities caused severe harm to its members and the public, including excessive financial donations and psychological pressure. This marks the first time a religious group has been ordered dissolved by a Japanese court since World War II.
The Unification Church, headquartered in South Korea, has long been embroiled in controversies over its missionary and fundraising practices. The Japanese government earlier sought the group's dissolution after an investigation revealed it had improperly profited from its followers through massive donations. The Supreme Court's decision is effective immediately, ending any further possibility of appeal by the group.
