ASIA/JAPAN – Two members of a religious sect kidnapped in view of forced conversion

Monday, 15 September 2014

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Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) – Two members of the Church of Unification in Japan were abducted in view of forceful conversion to return to the “true religion”: the abduction was carried out by family members with the complicity of a local Evangelical minister. Fides was informed by Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), who say that this sort of abduction of members of minority religious groups in view of forced conversion is not rare in Japan. In recent years many families influenced by prejudice have attempted to force members of Christian sects to abjure their faith.
In July this year, the United Nations commission for human rights alarmed about “reports of persons who converted to new religious movements, kidnapped by family members and confined”, called for effective measures to guarantee the right of every individual to freedom of belief.
According to HRWF, the two persons recentlyabducted were led under false pretences to an apartment in Osaka where they were confined, while their two children aged 3 and 8 years were taken away. The abduction was carried out with the help of Evangelical minister, Pastor Takazawa. The unfortunate couple, thanks to a call for help sent during the night, were rescued by police and returned home. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/9/2014)


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