Japan PM orders probe into Unification Church -Kyodo (updated)
17/10/2022 02:18
(Adds background)
TOKYO, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio
Kishida has ordered an investigation into the Unification
Church, Kyodo news agency reported on Monday, after revelations
about its ties to the ruling party came to light after the
assassination of former premier Shinzo Abe.
Support for Kishida's government has tumbled to its lowest
level since he took office on growing anger about the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) not fully disclosing its ties to the
church.
Kishida instructed the culture minister to investigate the
church under the Religious Corporations Act, and a dissolution
order may be issued depending on the outcome, Kyodo reported.
Abe was shot during an election rally in July and the
suspected killer said his mother was bankrupted by the church,
which critics call a cult, and blamed Abe for promoting it.
Keiko Nagaoka, education and cultural minister, told
reporters she would start working on the investigation
immediately, according to media reports.
(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Christopher Cushing and
Stephen Coates)
((kaori.kaneko@thomsonreuters.com;))