UPF-JAPAN Sub Acc. | “14 Facts +” We examine Japan’s situation based on verified facts, while sharing international perspectives and insights from experts.
If judicial decisions are presented abroad through selective or misleading descriptions of the District Court and High Court judgments, it risks creating the impression that Japan’s commitment to democracy, individual rights, and freedom of religion is being undermined.
To many international human rights advocates, such developments may raise concerns that Japan is stigmatizing a religious minority in a manner inconsistent with international human rights standards.
Some may even view this as resembling a modern-day witch hunt or an inquisition against a religious minority. Whether one agrees with that characterization or not, such perceptions can seriously affect Japan’s international reputation as a democracy committed to the rule of law and freedom of religion.
If judicial decisions are presented abroad through selective or misleading descriptions of the District Court and High Court judgments, it risks creating the impression that Japan’s commitment to democracy, individual rights, and freedom of religion is being undermined.
To many international human rights advocates, such developments may raise concerns that Japan is stigmatizing a religious minority in a manner inconsistent with international human rights standards.
Some may even view this as resembling a modern-day witch hunt or an inquisition against a religious minority. Whether one agrees with that characterization or not, such perceptions can seriously affect Japan’s international reputation as a democracy committed to the rule of law and freedom of religion.
『国家の生贄』福田ますみ氏、
人権弁護士パトリシア・デュバル氏 ーーブリュッセル記者会見
INVITATION:
Conference at Brussels Press Club
29 June 14:00 - 16:00 CET Time
Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels - Metro Schuman
Speakers:
Opening Remarks: Willy Fautré, Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers Int'l
Norishige Kondo, Former Director FFWPU, Legal Department
The Dissolution Case
Rev. Kimihiro Okamitsu, Pastor of Shinjuku Family Church
Testimony: Consequences of the Dissolution
Masumi Fukuda, Investigative journalist, author of the book "Sacrifice to the Nation" (Interpreter: Mihoko Koetsier)
Presentation of the book
Patricia Duval, Attorney in international human rights law
Violations of International Law and the United Nations
Q & A
ATTEND ONLINE ON YOUTUBE
BRUSSELS PRESS CLUB TV
https://t.co/tTX2v9pREv
A Dissolution Order Issued by Relying Only on Anti-Cult Activists’ Claims Is Fundamentally Unjust
The key issue is not whether some members of a religious organization committed unlawful acts. Individuals who violate the law should be held personally accountable.
The real question is whether dissolving an entire religious organization—despite the absence of criminal convictions against the organization itself—meets the strict requirements of freedom of religion, proportionality, and the rule of law under international human rights standards.
Simply asserting that the dissolution was lawful under Japanese domestic law does not settle this question.
From a European and international human rights perspective, there are serious concerns that Japan’s reliance on the broad and ambiguous concept of “public welfare” is insufficient to justify such a far-reaching restriction on a fundamental freedom.
Believers may continue to hold their faith, but losing their places of worship, church property, and religious community is a significant interference with the collective exercise of freedom of religion. Whether such interference is justified under international human rights law is precisely the issue now being debated.
A Dissolution Order Issued by Relying Only on Anti-Cult Activists’ Claims Is Fundamentally Unjust
The key issue is not whether some members of a religious organization committed unlawful acts. Individuals who violate the law should be held personally accountable.
The real question is whether dissolving an entire religious organization—despite the absence of criminal convictions against the organization itself—meets the strict requirements of freedom of religion, proportionality, and the rule of law under international human rights standards.
Simply asserting that the dissolution was lawful under Japanese domestic law does not settle this question.
From a European and international human rights perspective, there are serious concerns that Japan’s reliance on the broad and ambiguous concept of “public welfare” is insufficient to justify such a far-reaching restriction on a fundamental freedom.
Believers may continue to hold their faith, but losing their places of worship, church property, and religious community is a significant interference with the collective exercise of freedom of religion. Whether such interference is justified under international human rights law is precisely the issue now being debated.
Detention Warrant Sought for 95-Year-Old Religious Leader
A religion-and-politics scandal in South Korea.
On June 22, the joint prosecution-police task force investigating religious-political collusion sought a detention warrant for Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old chairman of Shincheonji.
Lee faces allegations that include violating the Political Party Act.
Ahead of the 2021 presidential primary and the 2024 general election primary, he is accused of pressuring followers to join the People Power Party.
It also reportedly obtained a statement from a person connected to the case, who said Lee told former President Yoon Suk-yeol he "had to repay a debt of gratitude."
Prosecutors suspect Shincheonji backed Yoon in return for having a 2020 COVID-19 investigation blocked.
Shincheonji rejects this, saying Yoon was in fact pushing the investigation forward.
Similar concerns surround the case of Dr. Hak-ja Han, the 83-year-old leader of the Unification Church. She has been detained for a prolonged period, her health has deteriorated, and she is currently hospitalized.
The hearing to review the detention warrant request will be held soon at the Seoul Central District Court.
https://t.co/oMor0y5B4E
『国家の生贄』福田ますみ氏、
人権弁護士パトリシア・デュバル氏 ーーブリュッセル記者会見
INVITATION:
Conference at Brussels Press Club
29 June 14:00 - 16:00 CET Time
Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels - Metro Schuman
Speakers:
Opening Remarks: Willy Fautré, Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers Int'l
Norishige Kondo, Former Director FFWPU, Legal Department
The Dissolution Case
Rev. Kimihiro Okamitsu, Pastor of Shinjuku Family Church
Testimony: Consequences of the Dissolution
Masumi Fukuda, Investigative journalist, author of the book "Sacrifice to the Nation" (Interpreter: Mihoko Koetsier)
Presentation of the book
Patricia Duval, Attorney in international human rights law
Violations of International Law and the United Nations
Q & A
ATTEND ONLINE ON YOUTUBE
BRUSSELS PRESS CLUB TV
https://t.co/tTX2v9pREv
『国家の生贄』福田ますみ氏、
人権弁護士パトリシア・デュバル氏 ーーブリュッセル記者会見
INVITATION:
Conference at Brussels Press Club
29 June 14:00 - 16:00 CET Time
Rue Froissart 95, 1040 Brussels - Metro Schuman
Speakers:
Opening Remarks: Willy Fautré, Director of Human Rights Without Frontiers Int'l
Norishige Kondo, Former Director FFWPU, Legal Department
The Dissolution Case
Rev. Kimihiro Okamitsu, Pastor of Shinjuku Family Church
Testimony: Consequences of the Dissolution
Masumi Fukuda, Investigative journalist, author of the book "Sacrifice to the Nation" (Interpreter: Mihoko Koetsier)
Presentation of the book
Patricia Duval, Attorney in international human rights law
Violations of International Law and the United Nations
Q & A
ATTEND ONLINE ON YOUTUBE
BRUSSELS PRESS CLUB TV
https://t.co/tTX2v9pREv
福田ますみ氏『国家の生贄』、いよいよ欧州デビューらしい。
6月下旬、ベルギー・ブリュッセルのプレスクラブで、Human Rights Without Frontiers(HRWF)主催の記者会見が開催されるとのこと。
日本の家庭連合問題や解散命令をめぐる最高裁判断、そして信教の自由・人権保障の現状について、どのような報告や議論が行われるのか注目されています。
日本国内で展開されてきた福田氏の主張や問題提起が、欧州の人権・信教の自由の専門家や関係者にどのように受け止められるのか――その反応にも注目したいと思います。