Japan leaders urge court to revoke legal religious status of Unification Church

Japan’s education minister Masahito Moriyama speaks at a press conference in Tokyo (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s government has asked a court to revoke the legal status of the Unification Church after an education ministry probe concluded the group has systematically manipulated its followers into donating money, sowing fear and harming their families over decades.

The request submitted to the Tokyo District Court asks for it to issue a dissolution order revoking the church’s status as a religious organisation.