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January 31, 2011

New Divine Principle Blog  -  A Z D A K ’ S  U N I V E R S E

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August 21, 2009

Japanese Unification Church member kidnapped and imprisoned

Mr. Toru Goto (Gohtoh) had been kidnapped and imprisoned by his family and professional exit counselors for more than 12 years in modern day Japan. He is currently on a tour of the U.S., accompanied by Mr. Komono, formerly of Sekai Nippo, now Director of Public Relations for the Unification Church of Japan.
 

Go to youtube for more videos on this issue:
      

Kidnapped Part 1
Kidnapped Part 2

This article on a website of the American Unification Church (a.k.a. Family Federation for World Peace and Unification) provides a few more details. A newer article on the same website quotes a statement of the American Clergy Leadership Conference:

“As faith leaders we must say that we were shocked to see photos of Mr. Goto taken just after he escaped last year. He looked in every way the same as survivors of Holocaust death camps of Germany. We must say that we are even more shocked that in such a modern democratic society as Japan this egregious violation has not been fully prosecuted based on existing laws. We call upon the Japanese government, media and all appropriate law enforcement authorities to demonstrate Japan’s rightful position as a global leader by bringing this case and the lawbreakers to justice. The 20,000 pastors of the ACLC will fully work from America and through the United Nations to support these efforts.”

March 9, 2009
Kazakhstan Frees Unification Church Missionary

On Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Kazakhstan plans to release from jail Elizaveta Drenicheva, a Unification Church missionary whose sermon on original sin was ruled a crime against peace and security of humankind. Her sentence has been commuted to time served but she still has to pay a fine of US$ 200 plus court costs of US$ 800.

While this may come as a relief to watchers of religious and human rights, reasons for future concern remain. According to a Washington Times article also other religious groups still are subject to reprisals. Just after Miss Drenicheva was jailed, the head of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Kazakhstan, B. B. Govinda Swami, was denied entry despite having a valid visa. Kazakhstan also continues to jail baptist priests for unregistered worship.

Despite the commutation of Mrs. Drenicheva’s sentence and her release from jail the guilty verdict against her still stands. Unification Church members intend to appeal.

Earlier articles on the subject:

Washington Times: Kazakhstan backs off on religion limits (Feb. 13, 2009)

Forum 18 on Kazakhstan religious freedom issue (February 2009):

• A highly dangerous precedent
• Kazakhstan Secret Police source of media intolerance
• OSCE legal opinion seriously criticizes draft law
   
• About Forum 18

For more updates see the links on the article page.

Direct Dominion - What’s it like?
According to Unification Movement teaching, every human being will at some time enter Heaven, the realm of God’s direct dominion. The details of what that is are kind of foggy, nobody experienced it. Check the Teaching section for theoretical details.

However, a picture says more than a thousand words - so check out this Scene From Heaven.

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Sun Myung Moon

New:

Toru Goto’s imprisonment in Japan
August 21, 2009

Kazakhstan frees Unification Church Missionary
March 9, 2009

Kazakhstan jails Unification Missionary
January 9, 2009

Scenes From Heaven
May 22, 2008