Greatest Human Rights Violations Since the War

Japanese symposium and protest march highlight widespread severe human rights violations going on for more than 50 years.

Tokyo, 28th October 2024 – Published as an article in the Japanese newspaper Sekai Nippo. Republished with permission. Translated from Japanese. Original article. 

“Abduction and confinement are the greatest human rights violations since the war”

Symposium in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture

by the editorial department of Sekai Nippo

A symposium on the theme of basic human rights and freedom of religion was held on 26th October 2024, in Hamamatsu City. The speakers argued that the abduction, confinement, and forced faith-breaking experienced by members of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) are human rights violations that must not be ignored. The symposium was organized by the Shizuoka Prefecture Citizens’ Association for the Protection of Basic Human Rights and Freedom of Religion – represented by Tatsuya Matsushita (松下達也) – and was attended by over 200 people.

Non-fiction writer Masumi Fukuda ((福田ますみ) and Senior Pastor Haruhisa Nakagawa (中川晴久) of the Christian Church of the Lord’s Sheep (主の羊クリスチャン教会) gave keynote speeches. Fukuda pointed out,

“Abduction and confinement are the greatest human rights violations since the war. Even though opponents exploit such cases as a business, the media does not report it at all.”

She continued her analysis, “The abduction and forcible detention of believers led to them becoming apostates [Editor’s note: persons who renounce a religious or political belief or creed] and making false statements in court.” Their false testimonies became the trigger for the request for a court order to dissolve the Family Federation.

Pastor Nakagawa explained,

“As a result of the opposition spreading malicious propaganda, the Family Federation has been labeled a ‘cult’ and its social standing has been degraded. Furthermore, abduction and confinement are being justified under the pretext of escaping from a cult.”

He criticized that the issue of the Family Federation has become a tool for political maneuvering aimed at undermining the Abe faction. The then-Prime Minister Kishida assisted it with all his might to accomplish the agenda of the terrorist. Nakagawa expressed a sense of crisis, saying, “If this continues, Japan will be in great danger.”

The symposium was also attended by Tadashi Yoshimura (吉村正), who had come from Yamaguchi Prefecture. He has personal experience of abduction and confinement. Yoshimura stated that such acts constitute a denial of one’s legal personality. (See editor’s note below)

Yoshimura declared, “As victims, we must speak out for freedom of religion and democracy.”

After the symposium, participants marched through downtown Hamamatsu, raising their voices to “protect basic human rights and freedom of religion.” Additionally, at the symposium venue, there was an exhibition of panels about the abduction, confinement, and forced renunciation of faith experienced by members of the Family Federation.

[Editor’s note: The phrase “denial of one’s legal personality” refers to an infringement on a person’s fundamental legal rights and status as an individual under the law. Legal personality is the recognition by the law that an individual has certain rights and responsibilities and can exercise these rights within a legal framework. When someone is abducted or confined against their will, their basic autonomy and capacity to make legal decisions – such as freedom of movement, freedom of association, and the ability to express religious beliefs – are severely restricted or completely denied.

In this context, Tadashi Yoshimura is emphasizing that his experience of abduction and confinement stripped him of these legal capacities, as he was deprived of the freedom to act as an autonomous legal subject. By calling it a “denial of one’s legal personality”, he underscores the severity of these actions, framing them as violations not just of personal freedom, but of the foundational rights guaranteed to individuals within a democratic society.]

Featured image above: On 26^th October 2024, Masumi Fukuda (福田ますみ) spoke about the reality of victims of abduction and confinement at Act City Hamamatsu in Chuo Ward, Hamamatsu City. Photo: Tsuyoshi Toyoda (豊田剛).

Related to Japanese human rights violations: Courts Using Debunked Concepts Against Minority

Also related to Japanese human rights violations: Dissolution Case: Wild Claims, Illegal Actions

Also related to Japanese human rights violations: Terms from Consumer Law Used to Rob Faith

Also related to Japanese human rights violations: 2nd-Generation Members Protesting Persecution

Also related to Japanese human rights violations: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And also related to Japanese human rights violations: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

More, related to Japanese human rights violations: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

And more, related to Japanese human rights violations: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

Even more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Japan Following the Way of China

And still more, related to Japanese human rights violations: 12 Religious Freedom NGOs Denouncing Japan

And even more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Conference on Religious Freedom Violations

Still more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Japan: Threat to Religious Freedom

Even more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Call to End Witch Hunt

More, related to Japanese human rights violations: Government’s Foul Play Pointed Out

More, related to Japanese human rights violations: Japan: 4300 Abductions and Forcible Detentions

And more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Illegalities of Activist Lawyers Exposed

Yet more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Lawyers Manipulating, Coercing, Lying

Still more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Biased Information from Leftwing Lawyers

Even more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Dangerous Precedent to Crush Religions

Even more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Kyodo News: 100s of Rights Violations Claimed

Even more, related to Japanese human rights violations: Fabricated Torts Part of Wily Strategy in Japan

Related to biased Japanese rights violations: Media Helping Terrorist Reach His Goal

Related to biased Japanese rights violations: Kishida Administration Giving in to Terrorism

Related to biased Japanese rights violations: Kishida Has Opened Can of Worms

Related to biased Japanese rights violations: Bizarre Atlantic Report Condoning Terror

Related to biased Japanese rights violations: Japan Times: Warning of Terror

Related to biased Japanese rights violations: Did constant hate-mongering cause terror?