Wave of Violence Against Jehovah's Witnesses in Japan: The Stories of the Victims

Recent anti-cult campaigns, triggered by the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, have led to a wave of hatred and violence against Jehovah's Witnesses in Japan. The harrowing stories of two women who were physically assaulted illustrate how the climate of intolerance is deteriorating.

The Campaign of Hate and Violence

The assassination of Shinzo Abe in 2022 had a devastating impact on the Japanese religious community. The assassin claimed his mother had been financially ruined by the Unification Church. This sparked a defamatory campaign against so-called “cults,” also targeting Jehovah's Witnesses. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare's guidelines against alleged “religious abuse of children” further fueled the hatred.

Y’s Experience

Y, a kind elderly woman, was evangelizing door-to-door in Chiba in February 2024. During one visit, an enraged man violently attacked her, pushing her down the stairs and dragging her companion by the hair. Initially reluctant to report the incident, Y eventually went to the police. However, the authorities' response was disappointing. Despite identifying the building and floor, the attacker was not found, and the case was closed.

Although traumatized, Y continues her evangelistic mission but avoids the neighborhood where the attack occurred. "I bear no grudge against the attacker," says Y, "but I am worried about the increasing assaults incited by the media."

S’s Dramatic Assault

S, an energetic woman in her seventies, suffered an even more violent assault near Hiroshima in June 2023. A man kicked her, causing her to fall down the stairs and break her wrist. She, too, initially hesitated to report the attack, fearing retaliation. However, the intervention of hospital staff and the elder accompanying her led to the incident being reported to the police. The attacker, a university professor, was arrested and compensated S to avoid trial.

Despite the trauma and persistent fear of stairs, S continues her mission, emphasizing her surprise at the violence in a country like Japan. "I didn't expect persecution to manifest so violently," she states.

The Response of the Government and the United Nations

The Japanese government's response to criticism from United Nations Special Rapporteurs has been evasive. Although the government claims it never intended to incite violence, the promoted hate speech has evidently contributed to the stigmatization of religious minorities. Most studies on hate crimes agree that incitement to hatred, especially by authorities, inevitably leads to violence.

Conclusion

The experiences of Y and S are painful testimonies to how religious intolerance can degenerate into physical violence. It is imperative that the Japanese government and society as a whole take concrete measures to protect religious minorities and firmly condemn any form of hate speech. Justice and the protection of human rights must prevail to prevent such crimes from recurring. To further explore the issue and better understand the devastating impact of hate crimes on religious minorities, it is recommended to watch the docu-film “THE IMPACT.” This groundbreaking film explores in detail the dynamics and consequences of hate campaigns, offering a comprehensive and informed perspective on this emerging issue.