Religious Kidnapping & Forced Conversion

Mr. N (25 years old) disappeared from his home in Suginami-Ku Tokyo early in the morning of June 14 and has been missing ever since. He is a youth member of the Unification Church and an OB of Keio University CARP (Collegiate Association of the Research of the Principle). From circumstantial evidence, there is a great possibility that he was kidnapped and is being forcefully confined with the intention to make him renounce his faith and secede from the Unification Church. Since his sudden disappearance, his fiancé Miss Eriko Sugano has been repeatedly requesting the Suginami Police Department to search for and rescue him. Yet, she hasn’t been able to receive appropriate support and hasn’t been able to even gain his whereabouts. Kazuhiro Yonemoto reported Miss Eriko’s pleading on his blog on August 1. Sekainippo (daily news paper) published related articles from August 3 to August 5. I urge you to read these publications. For whatever reason, forcing someone to renounce his/her faith and kidnapping and confining for that purpose is a crime. We cannot let these criminals be on the loose. I call on everybody to support for Mr. N to be released as soon as possible.

Chairman Toru Goto

Urgent report - Missing fiancé

Toru Goto, head of the Association, appealed to Committee for Inquest of Prosecution

Following my liberation from abduction and confinement which had lasted 12 years and 5 months, on 10th February 2008 I filed a criminal charge against the individuals who had been involved in the criminal deeds.

The Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office, however, judged "No Prosecution" on my case on 9th December 2009. The decision was unbelievable and I could never accept it. Thus, I have prepared a written petition with my counterarguments against the prosecutor's reasons of no prosecution so as to file it to the Committee for Inquest of Prosecution.

On 23rd June 2010, thanks to cooperation of many supporters, I could submit the written petition with necessary documents. I hereby express my gratitude to all those who have rendered their assistance and cooperation.

Toru Goto

News report in Korea
・Newsis Report
・News Cheonji Report 1～3
・Break news Report 1～2
・Yonhap News Report
・Kyeong Hyang Newspaper Report
・Segye Ilbo Report
・Sunday Seoul Report
・The Segye Times: Japan turning a blind eye to Abduction of Religious Persons 1～4

Help Is Available
Help is available for members of the Unification Church who feel they may be in danger of being abducted and held captive, who unfortunately already went through such an experience and are suffering post traumatic stress disorder or other after-effects, or who find that those opposed to our church are making it difficult for you to continue your life of faith or maintain normal interpersonal relationships.