One of the attorneys representing the Unification Church concludes its account of the case and offers some general comments.
February 13, 2025
The Malicious Conduct of MEXT Observed in the Creation of W1 and W2’s Written Statements
Both the cases of W1 and W2, described in the previous articles of this series, followed a similar process, where at each stage (①⇒②⇒③), more fabrications were added:
① Negotiations without lawyers② Notification letters sent by a lawyer from the anti-cult group National Network of Lawyers against Spiritual Sales (NNLSS)③ Creation of written statements by MEXT officials
Regarding these fabrications, W1 testified that she did not read the details carefully when signing and sealing her statement. W2 admitted that the written statement contained details she did not remember. This is effectively equivalent to admitting that the statements were fabricated by the MEXT.
False Statements Found in other Written Testimonies Submitted by the MEXT
It has been revealed that, in addition to the statements by W1 and W2, some testimonies were either altered by MEXT officials or entirely fabricated without the knowledge of the individuals concerned.
(1) W3’s Written Testimony
According to W3, a Family Federation member (a 65-year-old man at the time), MEXT officials listened to W3’s personal experiences without disclosing their intention to create a written testimony. Using this information, they drafted a statement under W3’s name, dated September 20, 2023, and submitted it to the court. W3 only learned about this later through contact from the Family Federation. The written statement bore W3’s signature, but W3 did not remember the circumstances under which he signed it. This is likely because he was unaware that it would be used as evidence in court and, therefore, did not perceive his signature as having significant implications.
Upon reviewing the statement, W3 discovered multiple claims that he had never made. For example, W3 had freely chosen to practice his faith, make donations, and participate in blessing ceremony (wedding ceremony). However, the testimony falsely claimed that W3 was coerced into making large donations, purchasing items, and attending mass wedding ceremony out of fear of being told he would “suffer misfortunes from ancestral karma” or “fall into hell.”
In response, W3 submitted a statement through the Family Federation to the court, requesting the deletion of the fabricated portions added by the MEXT.
(2) W4’s Written Testimony
W4, a 91-year-old former female member, had joined the Unification Church of her own free will, driven by her faith. She made donations, introduced her daughter and husband to the faith, and maintained a devout religious life for many years. However, following the media frenzy after the assassination of former Prime Minister Abe, W4 faced strong opposition from her sons, who had been incited by the reports. Unable to resist due to her age, she was compelled to leave the Family Federation but did not lose her faith.
The MEXT submitted a 34-page statement under W4’s name, dated December 23, 2023, to the court. Furthermore, under the direction of her sons, a donation refund request was initiated in W4’s name by a lawyer. When her daughter spoke with W4, W4 stated that she had not created the written testimony and did not wish for a refund of her donations.
The content of the statement was entirely false. For instance, the testimony claimed that W4’s husband had been persuaded at a video center that his depression was caused by ancestral karma and was coerced into purchasing a vase. In reality, W4’s husband’s depression occurred in 1959, and was resolved within two months. It was 26 years before W4 joined the Family Federation in 1985. W4 believed that the statement was fabricated by MEXT officials who listened to her sons about the family history and that the sons imposed her to sign it without letting her know the purpose of it.
The fabricated claim about family members’ illnesses being attributed to ancestral karma mirrored the methods used in W1’s falsified testimony.
(3) Written Testimonies by Others
Other testimonies beyond those of W1–W4 repeatedly included identical phrases such as “ancestral karma,” “hell,” and “Adam and Eve.” This pattern reveals that MEXT systematically and deliberately fabricated statements containing false content that contradicted the individuals’ actual views.
It is fundamentally implausible that ordinary adults would make significant decisions out of fear of concepts like “ancestral karma” or “hell.” These narratives were originally crafted by the National Network of Lawyers against Spiritual Sales to justify damages claims by former members who had freely donated for spiritual purposes. It is utterly unacceptable for such malicious tactics to be employed in the dissolution lawsuit.
Comparison with a UK Case
Regarding the fabrication of false written statements revealed in this case, a comparable international legal precedent worth considering comes from the United Kingdom.
In 1984, the UK government initiated legal action seeking to revoke the Unification Church’s charitable status, arguing that the Unification Church was not a bona fide religion. However, renowned religious scholars from leading international universities testified on the religious nature of the Unification Church. Their expert testimonies provided compelling counterarguments, stating that:
1. The doctrines of the Unification Church possess religious characteristics.
2. There was no evidence of brainwashing, coercion, or mind control practiced by the Unification Church.
3. Testimonies from apostate ex members, particularly those subjected to deprogramming, could not be regarded as credible evidence.
As a result, the UK government withdrew its lawsuit, and the costs of the action were awarded against the government.
In the UK case, the apostates’ testimonies were ultimately regarded as not reliable. In the Japanese case, problems go even beyond that. W1 and W2, who served as witnesses for the MEXT, were transformed into apostates under the influence of the National Network of Lawyers Against Spiritual Sales (NNLSS).
Following their introduction to the MEXT through the NNLSS, the MEXT actively fabricated maliciously false written statements on their behalf.
Further revelations from W3 and W4, the named individuals in separate statements prepared by the MEXT, have exposed the highly malicious behind-the-scenes manipulation involved in fabricating these false testimonies.
The cross-examinations in this case have conclusively demonstrated that the same fraudulent process was used to fabricate W1’s and others’ written statements.
Thus, this case not only establishes the falsity of the specific testimonies provided by the apostate witnesses but also proves the entire process of fabrication and deception, far surpassing the issues discussed in the UK case.
In the UK, the government understood that it had been misled by anti-cult forces and, recognizing its error, had the integrity to withdraw its case.
However, the MEXT in this case, despite the irrefutable exposure of their fabrications, shamelessly refuses to acknowledge its wrongdoings, which borders on criminal misconduct, nor does it exhibit any intention to withdraw its action.
In due course, the Japanese government will face scrutiny from the international community regarding its national integrity.
The MEXT’s deliberate and systematic fabrication of false written statements is nothing less than an acknowledgment by the MEXT itself that it cannot win the dissolution order lawsuit without resorting to such tactics.
Ideally, like the British government, the MEXT should withdraw its case. Instead, it has chosen to defame the Family Federation by fabricating testimonies and continuing the lawsuit for a dissolution order. This demonstrates the MEXT’s exceedingly malicious intent. Freedom of religion must be protected above the MEXT’s prestige.
Source: bitterwinter.org
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