Japan's Government Seeks to Revoke Unification Church's Religious Status

The Japanese government has requested the Tokyo District Court to revoke the legal status of the Unification Church, also known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, after an Education Ministry investigation found evidence of the group manipulating followers into donating money and causing harm to their families. The church, which could still operate but would lose its tax exemption privilege, condemned the decision and claimed it was based on distorted information. The investigation followed public outrage and questions about the group's fundraising and recruitment tactics after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had ties to the church.