Manila: Japan's Supreme Court has rejected a special appeal filed by the Unification Church against lower court rulings ordering the dissolution of the controversial religious group.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a ruling issued Monday, the court's Third Petty Bench, presided over by Justice Eriko Watanabe, stated that the dissolution order "does not violate the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and association." All four justices supported the ruling.
This decision marks the first instance where the top court has finalized a dissolution order for a religious corporation over tortious acts under the Civil Code. In October 2023, the education ministry sought a court order to dissolve the Unification Church, following the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022. The attack was reportedly motivated by alleged ties between Abe and the group.
The Tokyo District Court issued the dissolution order in March last year, and the Tokyo High Court dismissed an appeal filed by the group in March this year. Following the high court's decision, the dissolution order took effect, and liquidation procedures for the group are currently underway.
The Supreme Court found that the Unification Church's ongoing solicitation of donations over extended periods financially and psychologically harmed many individuals. The court ruled that the group committed acts substantially detrimental to public welfare, justifying a dissolution order under the Religious Corporations Act.
The court concluded that dissolving the group and stripping it of its religious corporation status was the only effective measure, noting that the group could continue soliciting donations from followers and others. Despite the impact on the group's and its members' psychological and religious aspects, the top court deemed the dissolution order inevitable.
In May, the Supreme Court rejected the religious group's request to remove Justice Masami Okino from the case due to her past remarks about the group. However, Okino did not participate in the case.
