A court in Japan has ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church, a controversial religious organization that came under the spotlight after the shocking assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.

The suspected perpetrator of the murder had admitted to holding a grudge against Abe because of his ties to this church, which he blamed for the bankruptcy of his family, reports with the BBC.

Japan's Ministry of Education and Culture called for the church to be dissolved, accusing it of manipulating believers into donating large sums of money and making other financial sacrifices.

However, the Unification Church, popularly known as the "Moonies," argued that the donations were part of legitimate religious activities. It has the right to appeal the ruling handed down Tuesday by a Tokyo district court.

The court order will remove the church's tax-exempt status and force it to liquidate its assets, but will not halt its operations in Japan. KosovaPress.

During the investigation, authorities discovered that the church forced its followers to buy expensive items by exploiting their fears for spiritual well-being.

Nearly 200 people were interviewed and claimed to have been victimized by the church's practices.

The Unification Church, which originated in South Korea, was established in Japan in the 1960s. The name "Moonies" comes from its founder, Sun Myung Moon.

Even before Abe's assassination, the church had stirred controversy over its teachings, which emphasize that marriage is essential for spiritual salvation. It is known for organizing mass weddings involving thousands of couples.

Since 2023, about 200 former members who said they were forced to donate funds to the church have sought compensation totaling 5.7 billion yen (about $38.5 million), according to their lawyers.

Investigations following Abe's assassination revealed close ties between the church and many conservative lawmakers in the ruling party, leading to the resignation of four ministers.

An internal investigation by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, found that 179 of its 379 lawmakers had had contacts with the Unification Church.

The relationships included attending church events, accepting donations, and electoral support.

The revelations about the extent of the church's involvement with the LDP shocked public opinion in Japan.