Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly Unification Church) Issues Statement Saying "Defamation and Misunderstanding"...

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) stated that the MBC PD Notebook broadcast titled "Abe, the Shooter, and the Unification Church" contains "unverified footage and one-sided claims."

In a statement on the 8th, the Family Federation pointed out that the following were unverified truths: △ referring to Tetsuya Yamagami, the suspect in the assassination attempt on former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as a "second-generation member of the Family Federation" △ reporting the damage amount unilaterally claimed by the "National Lawyers' Liaison Association for Countermeasures against Spirit Mediumship," which leads biased reporting in Japan △ claiming that issues supposedly improved by the 2009 declaration of legal compliance are still ongoing as before.

They also explained that the broadcast distorted the donations from believers as negative funds obtained through illegal coercion, stating, "Donations to the Federation are voluntary and have been thoroughly managed and transparently used, centered on the U.S. nonprofit UCI Foundation."

The Family Federation expressed condolences for former Prime Minister Abe, who passed away unexpectedly, and added, "We will continue to respond strictly and decisively to illegal religious persecution and related acts."