The Tokyo District Court decided to order the dissolution of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Family Federation, formerly Unification Church) on March 25, based on the request by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). In response to the decision, Patricia Duval, an international human rights lawyer from France, wrote a commentary as follows titled, “When the Country of the Rising Sun Becomes the Sunset for Civil Liberties.”
“Today’s decision by the Tokyo District Court to order dissolution of the former Unification Church is a parody of justice. It looks as if the decision was written a long time ago and the hearings were just held to pretend that justice has been rendered. (This is because) the Court ignored all the defense arguments and did not even bother answering them in the ruling issued today.
“Fabrication and distortion of testimonies by the Ministry (which came to light at the end of last year) evidenced during cross examination (of witnesses selected from among those who had written numerous written statements, both from MEXT and the Church)? Silence. (What about the) forced de-conversion of witnesses (who had been abducted and confined) and (their) testimonies dating from decades back? Silence.
“(To the) lack of evidence of ‘continuity’ in the alleged misconduct (the Court answers by) ‘reasonable inference’. (The) violation of international human rights law (was also met with) silence.
“Even the evidence of the goodwill of the Church and refund of donations provided by the defense lawyer were turned to its disadvantage and found as evidence of its unlawful conduct by the Court.
“(The Church) cannot win at this ‘heads I win, tails you lose’ game.
“(Despite) the absence of any law violation or any criminal conduct, the Tokyo District Court ordered the dissolution of a whole religious corporation on the basis of ‘violation of acceptable norms’ and infringement of ‘public welfare.’ (This is) another term for ‘elimination of religious minorities.’”
