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Shoko Asahara

Shoko Asahara
Asahara in 1990
Born
Chizuo Matsumoto

(1955-03-02)March 2, 1955
DiedJuly 6, 2018(2018-07-06) (aged 63)
Cause of deathExecution by hanging
Occupation(s)Cult leader, founder of Aum Shinrikyo
Political partyShinri Party
Criminal statusExecuted
SpouseTomoko Matsumoto (took the name "Akari Matsumoto" after her release from prison)[1]
Children12
Conviction(s)Mass murder
Terrorism
Criminal penaltyDeath
Date apprehended
May 16, 1995
Supreme Leader of the Aum Shinrikyo
In office
August 25, 1989 – May 16, 1995
Preceded byReligion founded
Succeeded byLeadership collapse
President of the Shinri Country
In office
June 20, 1994 – May 16, 1995
Prime MinisterKouichi Ishikawa
Supreme LeaderHimself
as Leader of Aum Shinrikyo
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Chairman of the Shinri Party
In office
August 16, 1989 – July 6, 2018
Interim: 1990 — July 6, 2018
Preceded byParty founded
Succeeded byParty dissolved
Party dissolved after the execution of Asa

Shoko Asahara (麻原 彰晃, Asahara Shōkō, March 2, 1955 – July 6, 2018), born Chizuo Matsumoto (松本 智津夫, Matsumoto Chizuo), was the founder and leader of the Japanese doomsday cult known as Aum Shinrikyo. He was convicted of masterminding the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, and was also involved in several other crimes. Asahara was sentenced to death in 2004, and his final appeal failed in 2011. In June 2012, his execution was postponed due to further arrests of Aum members.[2] He was ultimately executed along with other senior members of Aum Shinrikyo on July 6, 2018.[3][4]

  1. ^ "Japanese Aum Shinrikyo Cult Leader Shoko Asahara Executed". The Inquisitr. July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "Execution of Aum founder likely postponed". asiaone News. The Yomiuri Shimbun/Asia News Network. June 5, 2012. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014.
  3. ^ "Aum Shinrikyo: Japan executes cult leader Shoko Asahara". BBC News. July 6, 2018.
  4. ^ "Aum Shinrikyo guru Shoko Asahara hanged for mass murder: reports". The Japan Times. July 6, 2018.

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