When victims are presented as perpetrators, a great injustice becomes a blatant absurdity. Yet, it happens in contemporary Japan.
Testimonies Global
Made in Japan: No FoRB for the Family Federation. 2. Revamping the Debunked Notion of “Cult”
Most scholars have abandoned a word that has no definition and no borders. It is used only as a derogatory term to stigmatize “the other.” Yet, in Japan it is still current.
Made in Japan: No FoRB for the Family Federation. 1. Denying the First Political Human Right
Religious liberty is not only the freedom of believing or non-believing, but that of living one’s life according to one’s belief or non-belief. Yet, Japan curtails it. The case of the Family Federation.
Religious Freedom in Post-Authoritarian Taiwan. 7. Conclusion
Transitional justice and freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) are connected. Without effective transitional justice, FoRB in Taiwan will remain incomplete.
Religious Freedom in Post-Authoritarian Taiwan. 6. Is There Transitional Justice in Taiwan?
The political situation—with the same party responsible for the past human rights abuses still controlling the legislature—delayed transitional justice. Problems still remain today.
Religious Freedom in Post-Authoritarian Taiwan. 5. A Failure of Democracy?
Religious liberty is a key test to assess the democratic nature of a government. It remained a difficult test for Taiwan even after the end of the Martial Law.
Religious Freedom in Post-Authoritarian Taiwan. 4. The Tai Ji Men Case
Tai Ji Men was another victim of the 1996 purge targeting spiritual movements. The peculiarity of its case is that it has not been solved to this date.
Religious Freedom in Post-Authoritarian Taiwan. 3. The 1996 Purge Against “Dissident” Spiritual Movements
In 1996, spiritual movements that had not supported the Kuomintang candidate in that year’s presidential elections were raided and persecuted.
Religious Freedom in Post-Authoritarian Taiwan. 2. Authoritarian Regime and Democratic Transformation
Democracy, as everywhere, came gradually. So did religious liberty, which had been severely limited during the Martial Law period.
Religious Freedom in Post-Authoritarian Taiwan. 1. Transitional Justice and Human Rights
Moving from Martial Law towards democracy, Taiwan was in need of transitional justice. Did it fully come?