Unification Church Wins Case In Saga

By Kiminori Ito

A former associate professor of science has been ordered to pay a judgement of ￥88,000.  The Saga District Court ruled that comments made by the associate professor amounted to harassment.  From December 2011 to February 2012 the associate professor made comments that the Unification Church mates dogs with cats.  A reference to the Unification Church's practice of arranging marriages of Asians with other races.

With Judge Hatae Masashi presiding, the court ruled that the comments amounted to harassment as they were made to cause insult and ridicule.  The associate professor had refused to apologize for the comments after a girl belonging to the Moonies brought her parents and church officials to Saga National University to discuss the comments with the administration of the university and the associate professor.

In the ruling Judge Masashi noted, "The comments were intended to cause insult and to ridicule the beliefs of students.  It was wrong and had no issue with material being taught in the laboratory."  The plaintiffs had sought 4.4 million yen, but Judge Masashi awarded 88,000 yen ruling, "It is a fair amount of award seeing as there is no proof that real emotional damage had happened.  The young lady still attended classes and had an active social life."

The associate professor left the university last year and has been teaching at the University of Fukuoka.  The University of Fukuoka noted it was unfortunate such comments had been made but since being at the university the associate professor has been an exemplary addition to the science staff.