Cultic Studies Journal, Vol. 18, 2001, Page 43
The Application of the Subversive Activities Prevention Law and Aum Shinrikyo
After Aum Shinrikyo was ordered to dissolve its religious corporation and after it declared
bankruptcy, Aum Shinrikyo continued its organizational activities without legal
representation. The police (public safety) authorities affirm that the Aum Shinrikyo
membership has increased since 1998 and estimate that the group has more than 1,000
members. The personal computer manufacture and sales industry managed by Aum
Shinrikyo believers makes large sales profits of 6 billion yen per annum by selling its
products at attractively low prices. Apparently, this money is used to fund important
activities.
The Japanese Public Security Investigation Agency‘s Ministry of Justice maintained that it
kept the conduct of Aum Shinrikyo members under strict surveillance and restricted their
actions in compliance with the Subversive Activities Prevention Law. Strong objections were
raised in response to this statement by the government. Objectors asserted that such
governmental surveillance discriminates on the bases of thought and religious belief and
that it infringes freedom of thought and freedom of religion guaranteed under the Japanese
Constitution. As a result, the Public Safety Commission did not approve the use of the
Subversive Activities Prevention Law, stating that there was no clear and present danger
that the Aum Shinrikyo would again commit a crime against society-at-large, such as
indiscriminately killing people.
However, as stated above, the police (public security) authorities assert that the danger still
exists that Aum Shinrikyo members may act against the public. Aum Shinrikyo members
own or rent several facilities for communal living throughout Japan. In these areas, local
residents installed their own surveillance towers (a small building) in front of the Aum
Shinrikyo communes to monitor the cult‘s activities. Reasoning that the cult could destroy
their peaceful and safe living environments, people opposing Aum Shinrikyo have also
formed groups and conducted demonstrations with a view to ridding the communes from
the local areas. These people are requesting that their local governments cooperate with the
movements. The local governments have taken extra legal measures and rejected the group
application for change of residency of Aum Shinrikyo believers. There is a much-heated
debate of whether or not this is a violation of fundamental human rights.
Given the anxieties and demands of such residents, in December 1999 a new law was
passed to continue surveillance of any organization whose members killed indiscriminately
and to closely monitor the activities of individual members of groups organized by the
members of the former group. This law has been strongly criticized for violating freedom of
religion, as was also true of the Subversive Activities Prevention Law. However, in the wave
of Aum Shinrikyo bashing, this new law, with many problems, was passed in a very short
time (about 20 days). This law has been applied to Aum Shinrikyo since the beginning of
2000.
Legal Issues Involving Cults
Defamation
A number of lawsuits claiming defamation were filed against the mass media, scholars,
lawyers and others for their comments about new religious organizations. Movements to
suppress critical speech are evident, especially in a number of organizations.
Life Space. At the end of October 1999, Life Space persistently maintained that a
mummified corpse would definitely come back to life. This attracted much media attention.
From the end of 1998 onward, Life Space filed lawsuits against any media organization,
lawyers or other parties that were critical of its organization. In one case when Life Space
was referred to as a cult in a television program produced by Fuji Television, the
organization sued Fuji Television, the program‘s commentator, and the director of a relevant
The Application of the Subversive Activities Prevention Law and Aum Shinrikyo
After Aum Shinrikyo was ordered to dissolve its religious corporation and after it declared
bankruptcy, Aum Shinrikyo continued its organizational activities without legal
representation. The police (public safety) authorities affirm that the Aum Shinrikyo
membership has increased since 1998 and estimate that the group has more than 1,000
members. The personal computer manufacture and sales industry managed by Aum
Shinrikyo believers makes large sales profits of 6 billion yen per annum by selling its
products at attractively low prices. Apparently, this money is used to fund important
activities.
The Japanese Public Security Investigation Agency‘s Ministry of Justice maintained that it
kept the conduct of Aum Shinrikyo members under strict surveillance and restricted their
actions in compliance with the Subversive Activities Prevention Law. Strong objections were
raised in response to this statement by the government. Objectors asserted that such
governmental surveillance discriminates on the bases of thought and religious belief and
that it infringes freedom of thought and freedom of religion guaranteed under the Japanese
Constitution. As a result, the Public Safety Commission did not approve the use of the
Subversive Activities Prevention Law, stating that there was no clear and present danger
that the Aum Shinrikyo would again commit a crime against society-at-large, such as
indiscriminately killing people.
However, as stated above, the police (public security) authorities assert that the danger still
exists that Aum Shinrikyo members may act against the public. Aum Shinrikyo members
own or rent several facilities for communal living throughout Japan. In these areas, local
residents installed their own surveillance towers (a small building) in front of the Aum
Shinrikyo communes to monitor the cult‘s activities. Reasoning that the cult could destroy
their peaceful and safe living environments, people opposing Aum Shinrikyo have also
formed groups and conducted demonstrations with a view to ridding the communes from
the local areas. These people are requesting that their local governments cooperate with the
movements. The local governments have taken extra legal measures and rejected the group
application for change of residency of Aum Shinrikyo believers. There is a much-heated
debate of whether or not this is a violation of fundamental human rights.
Given the anxieties and demands of such residents, in December 1999 a new law was
passed to continue surveillance of any organization whose members killed indiscriminately
and to closely monitor the activities of individual members of groups organized by the
members of the former group. This law has been strongly criticized for violating freedom of
religion, as was also true of the Subversive Activities Prevention Law. However, in the wave
of Aum Shinrikyo bashing, this new law, with many problems, was passed in a very short
time (about 20 days). This law has been applied to Aum Shinrikyo since the beginning of
2000.
Legal Issues Involving Cults
Defamation
A number of lawsuits claiming defamation were filed against the mass media, scholars,
lawyers and others for their comments about new religious organizations. Movements to
suppress critical speech are evident, especially in a number of organizations.
Life Space. At the end of October 1999, Life Space persistently maintained that a
mummified corpse would definitely come back to life. This attracted much media attention.
From the end of 1998 onward, Life Space filed lawsuits against any media organization,
lawyers or other parties that were critical of its organization. In one case when Life Space
was referred to as a cult in a television program produced by Fuji Television, the
organization sued Fuji Television, the program‘s commentator, and the director of a relevant
