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| ▲ This undated file photo from an activist's social media account shows two people holding a banner with insulting remarks on victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery in front of a school. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
sexual slavery victims-insult
Activist under probe for defamation of sexual slavery victims
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- Police on Tuesday opened an investigation into a civic activist accused of insulting victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery and damaging their memorial statues.
The Yangsan Police Station in the southeastern province of South Gyeongsang said it has booked the activist, whose identity is withheld, on charges of defamation, violation of the law on assembly and demonstration, and property damage.
The activist has triggered controversy by staging a campaign across the country to dismantle girl statues symbolizing the former sex slaves, euphemistically called "comfort women."
He is accused of posting on his social media account a photo of a school where such a statue is installed, along with insulting comments, such as "Are you providing career guidance on prostitution by erecting a statue of a prostitute on school grounds?" and "It's a symbol of fraud."
He also posted a photo of himself holding a banner that reads "Stop the comfort women fraud!" in front of the Asahi Shimbun building in Japan.
The police said they have begun to investigate the activist after receiving a complaint against him in September last year, adding three people who participated in his activities are also under investigation.
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