=== Aum Shinrikyo
1. Outcast Aum aids landlord's plan

=== Falun Gong
2. China Sect Members Ask Singapore Aid
3. News Corp. Heir Woos China With Show of Support

=== Scientology
4. A church for celebrities, but what about me?
5. Police work for Scientology

=== Unification Church
6. Clergy split over controversial Moon's visit
7. Chief of Moonies stops in Jackson on U.S. tour
8. Reverend Moon goes mainstream in 50-state tour
9. Moon plans to speak at revival in W. Baltimore
10. Moon, in D.M., pushes marriage

=== Islam
11. Muslims demand halal foods be served in Dearborn schools

=== Militia Groups / Hate Groups
12. Texas farm standoff enters second year
13. 100 held as Met launches dawn raids on hate crime
14. Nobody enjoys an apologist

=== ISCKON / Hare Krishna
15. Living with Krishna
16. Spiritual school
17. Food of the gods
18. Chic Krishna

=== Hinduism
19. Boutique Deities Offend

=== House of Prayer (Atlanta)
20. Minister has prior conviction for beating
21. Abuse claims not new, files say
22. 19 children to remain in state custody
23. Pastor says he'll take chance with jury
24. 'Who's supposed to be the villain?'
25. Child Beatings: 'They'd beat them for every simple little thing they'd do'
26. Corporal punishment part of black American culture
27. Welfare officials acknowledge the value of spanking

=== False Memory Syndrome
28. Fairlie sues over daughter's 'false memory' claims

=== Other News
29. LA County Pays $85,000 Settlement
30. Muslims fear for their lives as cannibal cult leader escapes
31. Fortunetelling legal again in Coeur d'Alene
32. School rejected girl's religious cards, suit says
33. Woman Detained After Vampire Assaults

=== Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
34. Bush's initiative could help groups that promote faith healing

=== Death Penalty and other Human Rights Abuses
35. Texas fight takes on race and death penalty


=== Aum Shinrikyo

1. Outcast Aum aids landlord's plan
Japan Times (Japan), Mar. 23, 2001
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20010323a2.htm
[Story no longer online? Read this]
A person may offer help when seeing someone in despair, or instead opt to benefit from that desperation by taking advantage of it.

For 76-year-old Yutaka Takayama, offering his apartments in the Karasuyama district of Tokyo's Setagaya Ward to 38 Aum Shinrikyo members is ''killing two birds with one stone,'' satisfying humanitarian instincts and bringing financial benefit.
(...)

When asked why he decided to invite the cultists, Takayama initially pointed to somewhat idealistic motives before revealing a more mercenary nature.

''The country is getting too ugly on issues related to Aum, as seen in local residents' hysteria,'' he said. ''By providing Aum members with homes, I wanted to protect the country's democracy and freedom of speech.''

The cultists, including top-ranking Aum leader Fumihiro Joyu, 38, started occupying 13 rooms in three buildings in the district in December at Takayama's invitation.

The rental agreement has allowed Joyu and the other cultists to step away from their nomadic lifestyle, forced upon them by local protests and municipalities' refusal to accept their residency status.

But other residents in the complex believe Takayama's explanations disguise his real intentions.

''Inviting the cult, which committed heinous crimes, to live in the complex is the ultimate phase in Takayama's efforts to force us to sell our properties to him,'' said Ichitaka Yamaoka, who owns one of the units.

Residents claim it is one of at least two tactics Takayama is employing in an attempt to force their hand. They also complain that the view from one of the buildings is obscured by four rusty train carriages, an old boat and construction material.

Takayama would certainly profit were the other residents to leave the complex.
(...)

Takayama himself freely admits he is searching for profit.
(...)

He added that collectively renting his three apartment buildings to Aum, which currently pays around 1.5 million yen per month for the 13 rooms, would be quite a lucrative business.

''If I successfully force the current tenants and apartment owners out, I can rent them to Aum for around 4 million yen,'' he said.

Takayama's strategy is proving effective, as one of the apartment owners said he was told by a real estate agent that his property, which his family purchased 23 years ago for 30 million yen, is now almost worthless.
(...)

Takayama also claimed the apartment building has some crucial defects due to shoddy construction work, and he wants to kick other residents out for their own safety.

''I don't want the residents to get hurt in the event of a disaster,'' he said.

But residents and Niizeki Construction Co. said Takayama's explanations are lies that only serve to justify his ''fraudulent business,'' noting that the building cleared inspections by the Setagaya Ward Office upon completion.

Regardless of motive, Takayama's actions are welcomed by the cult itself.
(...)

While Aum members are not necessarily unaware of their landlord's ulterior motive, they seem hesitant to express their doubts to Takayama after years of drifting.

The 38 Aum members who settled in Karasuyama have still not been granted residency status by Setagaya Ward and live without the social benefits that come with residency, such as health insurance.
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