Related
Advertisements *
Elsewhere
Subscribe: RSS
RNB's RSS feed What is this? |
Subscribe: Email
![]() |
![]() Subscribe by Email What is this? |
Most Popular
- New Mexico apocalyptic sect leader released on bond
- Polygamist ranch is considered one household, state says
- Records say cult killed baby because he was a ‘demon’
- Preacher for profit: Followers say they were deceived by S. Florida pastor’s gospel of prosperity
- House of Yahweh sect case may test Texas’ anti-polygamy laws
- Warren Jeffs requests dismissal of incest charges
- Son: Arrest of Cult Dad Like Betrayal of Jesus
- Body Found In Home, Cult May Be Involved
- House Of Yahweh: A Darker Sect Than FLDS
- Pagan prisoners allowed twigs in their cells to use as magic wands
Agency: Aum Shinrikyo worshipping Matsumoto, justifying attacks
The Public Security Intelligence Agency on Friday requested three more years of surveillance on Aum Shinrikyo, saying the cultists have returned to a mind-set that justifies mass murder and other attacks against society.
The request was filed with the Public Security Examination Commission, which is expected to decide in January. The current three-year surveillance period will expire Jan. 31.
The agency said the extension–he second one requested–needed because Aum Shinrikyo still poses a threat to society. The group has again acknowledged its founder, Chizuo Matsumoto, as the ”absolute presence,” agency officials said.
Matsumoto, the bearded guru also known as Shoko Asahara, has been sentenced to death for masterminding the sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in March 1995, which killed 12 and sickened thousands, and other crimes.
The agency also wants Aum Shinrikyo to be required to report on its income and expenditures.
Surveillance of the cult started in 1999 under the organization control law.
The law requires groups under surveillance to provide information, including members’ names and the locations of its facilities, to the agency. Agency inspectors can inspect those facilities.
Aum Shinrikyo is the only organization to fall under this law.
Agency officials said surveillance of the cult should continue, based on inspections and interviews.
According to the agency, Aum Shinrikyo, which now goes by the name of Aleph, had taken action to reduce Matsumoto’s influence, including removing his pictures from facilities under the management of Fumihiro Joyu until autumn 2003.
But internal conflicts have created a collective leadership comprising several senior members, the agency said.
At seminars for cult members, the group plays recordings of mantras chanted by Matsumoto, and keeps DVDs and videotapes of lectures given by Matsumoto, the agency said.
In addition, senior members refer to Matsumoto’s son as the ”heir to the throne.” Moreover, they are again justifying the sarin attack in Tokyo and another nerve gas assault in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, in June 1994 that killed seven.
”We initiated (the attacks) in the hopes of establishing a wonderful country,” agency officials quoted the cultists as saying.
Aum boasts a membership of about 2,000 in Japan and Russia.
Most of the members are believed to have joined the cult before it launched its series of attacks in the mid-1990s.
Share this
To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:
Article and Site Tools
» PermaLink to: Agency: Aum Shinrikyo worshipping Matsumoto, justifying attacks Need a shorter link? You can remove everything after the final / » More news articles + news archive on Aum Shinrikyo » More religion and cult news Subscribe (RSS / Email) [What is RSS?] » RSS News Feed - All Topics: Religion News Blog RSS Feed » RSS News Feed - Single Topic: Aum Shinrikyo » Headlines by Email: Daily Religion News Blog Headlines |
More Article Tools
Bookmark / Tag: Del.icio.us Bookmark / Tag: Furl Save this article Email this article Print this article [Temporarily out of order] More Information Books about Aum Shinrikyo Relevant books (and other goodies) |
About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.



