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Hayashi adds that he wrote his analysis of Aum and Asahara so that the group‘s crimes
would not be repeated. (Asahi Shimbun, Internet, 11/1/03)
Woman Was Government “Mole”
Kazumi Kitagawa, who recently sought asylum in North Korea, spied on Aum Shinrikyo for
the Japanese government from within the group. Former Public Security Investigation
Agency official Hironari Noda said Kitagawa sold information to the agency, which has been
closely monitoring Aum for a number of years following the Tokyo subway attack. Aum
formally complained about Kitagawa‘s spying in 2002, but the government, while
acknowledging it, refuses further comment.
Kitagawa, who joined Aum in 1995, after the gas attack, often told other followers that she
was fascinated by North Korea and the Kim Il Jong regime and hoped to move there
someday. (Hiroshi Matsubara, Japan Times, Internet, 11/6/03)
“Killing Machine’s” Death Sentence Upheld
The Tokyo High Court has upheld the death sentence of Yasuo Hayashi, 45, known as the
‗killing machine,‘ convicted of a number of Aum Shinrikyo-related crimes including the
release of three bags of sarin poison gas inside Tokyo subway cars in 1995 that killed 12
and injured thousands. Hayashi‘s lawyers argued that he was only an accessory to leader
Shoko Asahara’s plan to overthrow the government. (AFP on Yahoo! News Singapore,
Internet, 12/5/03)
Towns Can’t Deny Them Residency
The Japanese Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling, decided that local governments cannot
deny residency rights to members of Aum Shinrikyo. Aum had asked the courts to revoke
the decisions of 16 local governments around the country not to accept members‘
applications for residence. Some local governments had refused residency because, they
said, they had a duty of protect the health and safety of their citizens. One jurisdiction that
has accepted Aum member residency subsidizes other local residents to monitor the group‘s
activities. (Mainichi Shimbun, Internet, 6/26/03)
More Members in Russia
Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Kiril, meeting with the ―chief priests of the six largest
Japanese churches,‖ says there are more Aum Shinrikyo members in Russia than in Japan.
Both he and the Japanese delegation agreed to wage a campaign against cults that ―could
facilitate Russian-Japanese rapprochement.‖ (Daily News Bulletin (Moscow), Internet,
8/12/03)
Awaiting Christ
Arrested for Illegal Burials
Fifteen members of Awaiting Christ have been arrested in Mandela Park, Umtata, South
Africa, and charged with burying followers illegally. Sinoxolo Dukuza says that a woman
claiming to be a prophet ―convinced my mother, two of my brothers, and my two sisters to
give up everything and join her church. She told them that Christ was coming in December
and that they would only be saved if they joined.‖ Dukuza said that when she tried to
persuade family members to leave, ―I was accused of being the devil, and my family was
warned to keep away from ‗worldly people‘ ...My mother and my brothers have been
brainwashed. They still believe Jesus is coming to fetch them.‖
Mandela Park community leader Chief Jonas Ndzambule said Awaiting Christ does not
believe in medical treatment and would not let its children attend school or allow members

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to work. He added that those who deny health care to people who then die are committing
murder. (Jonathan Ancer, The Star, Internet, 6/26/03)
Black Hebrews
New Status in Israel
The Black Hebrews, vegetarian polygamists from the U.S. who settled here more than 30
years ago, were recently granted permanent residence status in Israel. The 1,500 strong
community, living in the southern desert town of Dimona, began with 350 followers of Ben
Carter — now Ammi Ben-Israel — a Chicago bus driver who says the angel Gabriel told
him that he was God‘s representative on earth.
Believing that African-Americans are one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel, the Black Hebrews
established businesses in crafts and tailoring, started a tofu ice cream factory, and set up
several vegetarian restaurants. They were given temporary resident status in 1990 on
condition that no more followers come to Israel. (AP, Internet, 7/29/03)
Child Abuse
Children Kept in Cells at Islamic School
Police raided an Islamic School in Lusaka, Zambia, and charged two directors with unlawful
confinement and abuse of 280 students. The children, all boys between the ages of four and
ten dressed in robes and Muslim caps and housed in a warren of small rooms, said that they
wanted to leave because they were sometimes fed on rotten food kept in a sewer manhole.
They claimed that they were not allowed to speak any local language in school, and that ―a
breach of the rule attracted capital punishment.‖
Sports and Child Development Minister Gladys Nyrongo said that the children were
reportedly to be sent out of Zambia when they had been educated in Islam and learned an
Eastern Language. ―We don‘t want to have another al-Qaeda network in Zambia,‖ she
added. (Bob Sianjalika and Kaiko Namusa, Times of Zambia, Internet, 7/3/03)
Church of God in Upland
Couple Sentenced in Faith Healing Death
Richard and Agnes Wiebe, members of the Church of God in Upland, have been
sentenced to a year in jail and five years‘ probation by San Bernardino (CA) County Judge
Gerard Brown for allowing their sick baby to die of bacterial meningitis. The couple chose
prayer alone to deal with the illness because their church shuns medical treatment. The
Wiebes had pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and child abuse.
Their probation requires they attend parenting classes and refrain from associating with any
convicted felons except Daniel Layne, the reformed heroin addict who leads their church.
(AP, Internet, 9/15/03)
Creffield, Franz
Franz Creffield “Lured” Women
University of Toronto professors Jim Phillips and Rosemary Gartner have written a book
about Franz Creffield, who in the early 20th century ―lured‖ a group of deeply religious
persons, mostly women, away from their churches in Oregon to follow his brand of
Christianity, which included simple living, belief he was the next Joshua (that is, the
successor of Moses), and had the power to intercede between them and heaven.
Followers lay on the floor for hours hoping to bring in the Holy Spirit. Many burned their
possessions and lived communally. A group of local men eventually tarred and feathered
Creffield before driving him out of Corvallis to Seattle, but he continued to meet with his