Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 43
Aum Shinrikyo (Aleph)
Killing as Salvation
Kenichi Hirose, sentenced to death for involvement in the Aum Shinrikyo subway gas
attacks, said recently that Aum leader Shoko Asaha ―was said to have the power to
eliminate people‘s evil deeds. I could only take his instruction to release the gas as
salvation. That it was murder according to common sense did not occur to me.‖ (Yomiuri
Shimbun, Internet, 3/21/05)
Victims Still Await Compensation
The government is moving painfully slowly to provide financial compensation and medical
and psychological care to several thousand victims of the Aum Shinrikyo gas attacks. A
victims‘ representative says: ―Is it right for the government just to pity us, think we were
just unlucky at that moment, and do nothing?‖ Aum, now called Aleph, is paying some
compensation. (Kyodo News Service, Internet, 3/14/05)
Guilty in Training Death
Four members of Keroyan, an Aum Shinrikyo splinter group, were sentenced to
suspended prison terms for their involvement in the death of a woman during a spiritual
training session. They did not report the death for months fearing the group would be
severely criticized. (Kyodo News Service in Japan Today, Internet, 3/30/05)
First Execution Go-ahead
The Japanese Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence of former Aum Shinrikyo
official Kazuaki Okazaki, 44, for his role in the poison gas attacks on the Tokyo subway in
1995. He is the first of thirteen Aum members sentenced to death for the group‘s crimes
who has exhausted his appeals. (AFP in Yahoo Asia News, Internet, 4/7/05)
Drive to Double Membership
A senior Aum member has told a seminar of 270 followers that their number ―would be
twice as large if each one of you wins one new member.‖ The audience reportedly donated
$278,000 during the seminar. Current membership is estimated to be about 1,650 — plus
some 300 in Russia — down from 11,400 before the 1995 gas attacks. Aum, which has
deposed imprisoned leader Shoko Asahara, says it has abandoned violent and dangerous
rites, but t he government says members still follow Asahara‘s teachings, an apocalyptic
Hindu-Buddhist mix. (Yahoo! Singapore News, Internet, 6/3/05)
Family Asks Treatment for Asahara
The family of imprisoned Aum Shinrikyo guru Shoko Asahara has asked the Tokyo court
to move him to a medical facility for treatment of physical and mental problems. (Kyodo
News Service in Japan Today, Internet, 6/21/05)
Beasts of Satan
30-Year Sentence for Satanist Murders
Andrea Volpe, leader of the heavy metal rock band Beasts of Satan, has been sentenced
to 30 years in prison for killing the group‘s singer and two other women in ritual murders.
The killings engendered fear of ―devil cults‖ in Italy and moved the Vatican to begin a
course on Satanism and exorcism for Catholic priests. (Chiara Prazzoli, Tue, Internet,
2/22/05)
Bountiful Polygamous Community
Wives Say They Will Protect Their Children
Aum Shinrikyo (Aleph)
Killing as Salvation
Kenichi Hirose, sentenced to death for involvement in the Aum Shinrikyo subway gas
attacks, said recently that Aum leader Shoko Asaha ―was said to have the power to
eliminate people‘s evil deeds. I could only take his instruction to release the gas as
salvation. That it was murder according to common sense did not occur to me.‖ (Yomiuri
Shimbun, Internet, 3/21/05)
Victims Still Await Compensation
The government is moving painfully slowly to provide financial compensation and medical
and psychological care to several thousand victims of the Aum Shinrikyo gas attacks. A
victims‘ representative says: ―Is it right for the government just to pity us, think we were
just unlucky at that moment, and do nothing?‖ Aum, now called Aleph, is paying some
compensation. (Kyodo News Service, Internet, 3/14/05)
Guilty in Training Death
Four members of Keroyan, an Aum Shinrikyo splinter group, were sentenced to
suspended prison terms for their involvement in the death of a woman during a spiritual
training session. They did not report the death for months fearing the group would be
severely criticized. (Kyodo News Service in Japan Today, Internet, 3/30/05)
First Execution Go-ahead
The Japanese Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence of former Aum Shinrikyo
official Kazuaki Okazaki, 44, for his role in the poison gas attacks on the Tokyo subway in
1995. He is the first of thirteen Aum members sentenced to death for the group‘s crimes
who has exhausted his appeals. (AFP in Yahoo Asia News, Internet, 4/7/05)
Drive to Double Membership
A senior Aum member has told a seminar of 270 followers that their number ―would be
twice as large if each one of you wins one new member.‖ The audience reportedly donated
$278,000 during the seminar. Current membership is estimated to be about 1,650 — plus
some 300 in Russia — down from 11,400 before the 1995 gas attacks. Aum, which has
deposed imprisoned leader Shoko Asahara, says it has abandoned violent and dangerous
rites, but t he government says members still follow Asahara‘s teachings, an apocalyptic
Hindu-Buddhist mix. (Yahoo! Singapore News, Internet, 6/3/05)
Family Asks Treatment for Asahara
The family of imprisoned Aum Shinrikyo guru Shoko Asahara has asked the Tokyo court
to move him to a medical facility for treatment of physical and mental problems. (Kyodo
News Service in Japan Today, Internet, 6/21/05)
Beasts of Satan
30-Year Sentence for Satanist Murders
Andrea Volpe, leader of the heavy metal rock band Beasts of Satan, has been sentenced
to 30 years in prison for killing the group‘s singer and two other women in ritual murders.
The killings engendered fear of ―devil cults‖ in Italy and moved the Vatican to begin a
course on Satanism and exorcism for Catholic priests. (Chiara Prazzoli, Tue, Internet,
2/22/05)
Bountiful Polygamous Community
Wives Say They Will Protect Their Children
