The Tokyo District Court held the first hearing Thursday on the government's request to issue an order to dissolve the controversial Unification Church over its aggressive donation solicitation practices. Questions also exist over ties between Japanese politicians and the South Korean religious group and its Japanese affiliate. Representatives of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the church attended the hearing that lasted for about an hour. Yamagami told the police his mother's vast donations to the church brought financial ruin to his family. The Unification Church was founded in South Korea by a staunch anti-communist in 1954.

Source: The Guardian February 23, 2024 09:09 UTC