FFWPU Europe and the Middle East: Julian Gray on England Dropped Its Case Against FFWPU in 1988; Why Isn't Japan Dropping It?

Facsimile from Unification News March 1988, page 1, published in New York, USA.

Very similar legal and evidentiary weaknesses: In England, a surprisingly relevant legal precedent exists to the dissolution order case in Japan

Part 1 of a report written 28th March 2024 by Julian Gray, former editor of the FFWPU publication Today’s World, currently translator for the Family Federation’s new international administrative HQ, known as Cheon Mu Won, located in Gapyeong, South Korea. Edited version.

In 2024, the Japanese government moved to revoke the legal corporate status of the Family Federation for World Peace and Julian Gray Unification (formerly known as the Unification Church). The case has sparked national and international debate. But a surprisingly relevant legal precedent exists - one that might influence the outcome in Japan: the 1984-1988 UK charitable status case against the Unification Church. A close review of the British case may offer insights into the legal and evidentiary weaknesses now playing out in Japan.

Parallels and Lessons from the English Case

In 1984, then-Attorney-General [England’s chief law officer and senior legal adviser to the government] Michael Havers (1923-1992) instigated proceedings to challenge the charitable (not-for-profit) status of the Unification Church in England. The case was significant and complex, involving claims about the church’s religious status and moral standing. But after several years of investigation and preparation, the British government suddenly dropped the case in 1988. Why?

Facsimile from Unification News March 1988, page 1, published in New York, USA

Attorney-General Patrick Mayhew (1929-2016) addressed the House of Commons on 3rd February 1988, explaining the government’s decision to discontinue the proceedings. His reasoning - and the process behind it - could bear directly on how Japan’s courts view the reliability of government evidence in their

current case.

The Attorney-General’s Statement in Parliament

Mayhew’s remarks were revealing. First, he affirmed that under English law, there is a strong presumption that a trust for the advancement of religion is charitable, regardless of how controversial the religion may be:

“Whatever view may be taken of its tenets, the Unification Church must, as a matter of law, be regarded as a religion. In English law there is a strong presumption that any trust for the advancement of any religion, without distinction, is charitable unless the contrary is proved by evidence admissible in court proceedings. Teachings that are in their very essence contrary to morality would be an example. It is for any challenger to bring forward such evidence: the burden is on him.”

He further admitted that despite exhaustive efforts - including soliciting testimonies from former members and others involved in the church - the government failed to meet this burden of proof:

“The evidence available to my predecessor in 1984 properly led him, with the advice of leading counsel, to conclude that there were sufficient prospects of an appeal succeeding. That evidence included testimony of witnesses Went to immense lengths to find evidence, but found called for the successful defendants in a libel none: The Treasury Solicitor’s Department, since action against Associated Newspapers Group 2015 called the Government Legal Department. Ltd. tried in 1981. In addition, there were Here, their HQ building in London. Photo: statements by former members of the Government Legal Department, Queen Anne’s Gate, Unification Church that had been offered when Westminster it came generally known that charity proceedings in the High Court were under consideration.

Since the proceedings were begun, the Treasury Solicitor [See editor’s note below] has gone to immense lengths in seeking out additional evidence from those who have been associated with the Unification Church. Some further potential witnesses have approached him on their own initiative. Further statements have been taken from other persons, who had been closely involved in comparatively recent activities of the Unification Church in this country, and who had wanted to assist in the challenge to charitable status of the trusts.

The most careful analysis has now been made of the totality of the evidence available to me, set against the legal presumption to which I have referred. Some of it, when tested in the light of all the material now available, has proved to be insufficiently reliable.

The remainder, when seen in the overall context, is shown to be of insufficient weight to rebut the legal presumption. I have now been advised by leading counsel that it is most unlikely that, if the appeal proceeded to trial, I should be able to dislodge that strong legal presumption of charitable status. After the most careful consideration, I agree with that advice.

The trial is due to start on 12 April [1988]. It would last an estimated three to six months and occasion great expense. In these circumstances, I have decided to seek the court’s leave to discontinue these proceedings, and the Treasury Solicitor [See editor’s note below] has this morning so informed the defendants.”

Attorney-General Mayhew emphasized that even after years of investigation and legal consultation, the case had little hope of The entrance to the UK success. Continuing would have cost the government a great deal in headquarters of the Family time, resources, and public credibility. Federation in Lancaster Gate, London The Attorney-General here explains that because the evidence the government had gathered was shown to be unreliable or weak, he was advised to discontinue the case. He does not clarify in detail which particular evidence influenced him the most. This report examines some of the evidence, brought by the defense, that probably influenced the Attorney-General.

To be continued. Part 2 coming soon.

[Editor’s note: The Treasury Solicitor was the head of the Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol), a non- ministerial government department that provided legal services to the majority of central government departments in England and Wales. In April 2015 it became the Government Legal Department (GLD).]

Related to England dropped case: Japan Following the Way of China

Also related to England dropped case: Japan’s Dissolution Case Echoes China’s Playbook

And also related to England dropped case: “Lawyers Lying and Shaming Japan” for 50 Years

More, related to England dropped case: Lawfare: State Uses Legal System in War on Faith

Also related to England dropped case: Media/Legal Expert: Communism Behind Persecution

And more, related to England dropped case: Militant Lawyers Dictate Government Policy

And more, related to England dropped case: Media Helping Terrorist Reach His Goal

Related to England dropped case: Kishida Administration Giving in to Terrorism

And more, related to England dropped case: 12 Religious Freedom NGOs Denouncing Japan

Yet more, related to England dropped case: Japanese Communists’ Final War

Still more, related to England dropped case: Political and Social Activism behind Oppression

And yet more, related to England dropped case: Opposition Inciting Regime to Excessive Steps

And still more, related to England dropped case: Journalist Reveals Ugly Leftwing Conspiracy

And even more, related to England dropped case: Gingrich: Kishida Joining Communist Campaign

Yet more, related to England dropped case: The 3 Enemies of Religious Liberty

Still more, related to England dropped case: Lawyer Exposes Dirty Leftwing Plot

And yet more, related to England dropped case: Inhuman Government-Supported Mass Deprogramming

And still more, related to England dropped case: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

And even more, related to England dropped case: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

Yet more, related to England dropped case: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to England dropped case: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

And yet more, related to England dropped case: Two European Scholars Warning Japan

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM T COMMEMORATING T

After The N-Word: Is “Cult” Next lilEIEIEI Share: El Term To Be Banned? • June 4 , 2025: • Knut Holdhus

England Dropped Its Case In 1988; Why Isn’t Japan? June 5, 2025

Believ er In Senate Race: Focus On Faith, Family June 3, 2025

Dispelling Myths Behind Horrendous Persecution June 2, 2025

Massive Rights Abuses Shatter Ji State Narrative June I, 2025

Justice Twisted: Assumptions Replaced Evidence May31,2025

Words kill: Religious freedom journalist calls us to reject religious slurs like the word “cult”, just like society has largely removed racial slurs like the “n-word” - Politics Overruled The Lawin Dissolution Case May30,2025

The Fragile Balance of Press Freedom and Religious Liberty High Time to Challenge the Cult - Becoming True Doors To God’s Heart For Others May29,2025

Narrative Part 3 (final) ofan article by Peter Zoehrer, j ournalist a nd Executive Director o f FOREF Europe, originally published 7th May 2025 by Search IEII Forum for Religious Freedom Europe (FOREF}, republished 9th May 2025 by Human Rights Without Frontiers, and by Bitter Winter on 16th May 2025. Cate ones

See part 7: Media: Harmful Impact of Stigmatizing Language

Peter Zoehrer. See part 2: Media as Weapon: Deadly Echoes Photo: FOREF of Bias on Air

A digital age of echo chambers - and resistance Send us a message

In our hyper-connected world , disinformation spreads fast - and First Name * Last Name stigma spreads faster.

Email Address

Yo ur Message *

Archway built on the occasion of the major annual Hindu religious festival Durga Puja in October 2024 in Bangladesh. Photo: Ronju65 I Wikimedia Commons. License: CC Attr 4.0 Int. Cropped

Bangladesh, a false social media post about a Quran desecration during Durga Puja in 2021 triggered deadly riots. The line between rumor and journalism collapses quickly.

Yet resistance is growing. Platforms like “Bitter Winter”, FOREF Europe, CESNUR, HRWF, and independent scholars continue to cha llenge false narratives, document abuse, and defend conscience.

Courts are taking note. In 2022, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in “Tonchev v. Bulgaria” that derogatory language by public authorities can violate religious freedom under Article 9 of the ECHR.

Recommendations

To safeguard both freedom of the press and freedom of relig ion or belief, the following actions are urgently needed:

1. Eliminate stigmatizing language such as “cult” or “Sekte,” unless supported by objective, legal evidence. Just as society has largely removed racia l slurs like the “N-word” from responsible discou rse, we must also reject religious slurs that dehumanize entire communities. Use accurate, neutral terms such as “faith community” or “new religious movement.” 2. Provide training for journalists on FoRB [Freedom of Religion or Belief] principles, rel igious literacy, and cultural sensitivity to prevent the spread of harmful stereotypes. 3. Ensure media accountability through ombudspersons, independent press councils, and public responses to unbalanced or defamatory content. 4. Support independent journalism and watchdog organizations that uphold both press freedom and the rights of re ligious minorities. 5. Urge governments and international bodies to refrain from adopting or promoting anti-cult narrat ives t hat violate international human rig hts norms. As UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Be/ief(FoRB) Nazila Ghanea warned in 2023, “direct violence against marginalized religious communities often goes hand in hand with lega lly mandated discrimination” - much of it fueled by biased media.

Conclusion: A test of integrity Sent formal UN request World Press Freedom Day is more than a to :Japan, but no reply: tribute - it is a test. Will the press stand Nazi/a Ghanea, UN with the voiceless, or with the mob? Will Rapporteur on Religious it defend Articles 18 and 19 of the UDHR- Freedom since February or betray them in pursuit of 2023. Photo: GiovannaKa sensationalism and scapegoats? I Wikimedia Commons. License: CC ASA 4 .0 Int In this frag ile global moment, integrity matters more than ever. We must demand a journalism rooted in truth, not tribalism; in context, not caricature. Only then can freedom

common cause for justice.

See part 7: Media: Harmful Impact of Stigmatizing Language

See part 2: Media as Weapon: Deadly Echoes of Bias on Air

Peter Zoehrer is a journalist and the Executive Director of FOREF Europe (Forum for Religious Freedom - Europe}, an independent Vienna-based NCO advocating for religious liberty, pluralism, and the protection of conscience across Europe and beyond.

Featured image above: From a demonstration organized by the Family Federation in the Japanese city of Koriyama 24th May 2025, against religious persecution. Photo: FFWPU

Related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: Bizarre Atlantic Report Condoning Terror

More, related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: Deliberate Lies Caused Abe Assassination

Even more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Le Monde Diplomatique Excusing Terror

And yet more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Canada: Dangerous Advocacy Journalism

Still more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Japan Times: Warning Of Terror

Also related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: Did Constant Hate-Mongering Cause Terror?

And also related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: The 3 Enemies of Religious Liberty

More, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Incendiary Hate Speech From Washington Post

Even more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Media, Politics, Courts Colluding for Dissolution?

Yet more, related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: Japan: Media Defiling Sacred Events and Places

Still more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Media Stereotypes and Misinformation Challenged

And even more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Huge Bias: Judges Clearly Swayed by Media

And yet more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Media Study: Lie Told 700 Times Becomes Truth

Still more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Media Criticized for Stereotyping Minorities

And still more, related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: Bias: No Right to Respond for Religious Minority

And even more, related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: Collusion to Rob Minority of Its Rights

Yet more, related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: State and Media Creating “Today’s Non-Citizens”

Still more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Japan Criticized for Glaring Rights Violations

And yet more, related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: Two European Scholars Warning Japan

And more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Media Helping Terrorist Reach His Coal

Related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Kishida Administration Giving in to Terrorism

And more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: 72 Religious Freedom NCOs Denouncing Japan

And even more, related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: Aiding Terrorist, Media Bashes Minority Religion

And yet more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Media Making Terrorist Yamagami into Hero

And still more, related to rejecting the n-word and the word “cult”: Media Generating Sympathy for Terrorists

Even more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Media and Government Allowed Terror to Succeed

Still more, related to rejecting then-word and the word “cult”: Key Questions Ignored by Media Chasing Ratings

Yet more, related to rejecting the word “cult”: Media Causes Family Rihs and Domestic Violence

And yet more, related to rejecting the word “cult”: Mother: “Daughter’s Suicide Because of Media Bias”

And still more, related to rejecting the word “cult”: Media and Activists Creating False Narrative

And even more, related to rejecting the word “cult”: Highly Distorted Media Reporting

Also related to rejecting the word “cult”: Journalists Point out Vicious Media Bias

And also related to media as weapon in narrative wars: Scary Bigoted Attitude in Big Media

Also related to media as weapon in narrative wars: Media Hostility to Religion

Previous Next « Believer In Senate Race: Focu… England Dropped Its Case In 1… »