Former followers and lawyers lashed out at a top Unification Church official for his “unapologetic apology” and shirking of responsibility over the suffering caused mainly by huge donations given to his religious organization.
Lawyers representing victims of the Unification Church called upon the government to disband the religious organization and urged a court to issue a dissolution order.
Fifty former members of the Unification Church are demanding 1.6 billion yen ($11.8 million) in compensation from the religious group over what they say were deceptive and unlawful tactics to take their money.
Families and legal experts gave a mixed assessment to a new law aimed at providing relief to the kin of followers of religious organizations and other groups who suffered severe financial hardship as a result of unscrupulous fundraising practices.