Thread by @AFP

Assassination of Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe increases scrutiny of Unification Church.

Accusations against the "Moonies" include that the sect cultivates political connections and pressures members to donate

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VIDEO: Members of the public lay flowers to honour assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe, as thousands of Japanese and foreign dignitaries gather in Tokyo on Tuesday at a rare state funeral that has sparked controversy and protest

Thousands of Japanese have offered flowers and prayers in honour of assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe ahead of a controversial state funeral attended by hundreds of foreign dignitaries

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Protesters demonstrate against the state funeral for Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on September 27.

Polls show 60% of Japanese oppose the decision to give Abe a state funeral - only the second for a former premier in the post-war period

#BREAKING State funeral for assassinated ex-Japan PM Abe begins

#UPDATE State funeral for Japan's assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe begins, with his widow Akie carrying his ashes into Tokyo's Budokan hall where thousands of mourners have gathered.

Dressed in a black kimono, Akie carried the ashes as a 19-gun salute sounded

Japanese and foreign dignitaries have paid tribute to assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe at a controversial state funeral, as long lines of people gathered to offer flowers and prayers

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VIDEO: The ashes of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are carried by his widow Akie into the Nippon Budokan venue in Tokyo as the controversial state funeral attended by Japanese and foreign dignitaries begins

VIDEO: Hundreds of protesters against the publicly funded state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gather in a street near the Nippon Budokan.

Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was shot dead on July 8 while campaigning