Japanese Government Sued by Two Denied Asylum Seekers
Admin GHRTV
10-01-2022
Malina Wiethaus
Japan and Human Rights Researcher.
Global Human Rights Defence,
The Iranian National Heydar Safari Diman, 53, and Deniz Yengin, 42, a Turkish national announced to file a lawsuit against the Japanese government for the violation of human rights. Both foreigners have applied for asylum, their requests have been denied on multiple occasions (Murakami, 2022).
In detention, both submitted up to 10 applications for provisional release. Most were denied. After being provisionally released, both foreigners were detained again, without being presented a reason for their repeated detainment Both foreigners participated in hunger strikes as a protest against the long-term detainment, resulting in psychological and physical harm.
(Human Rights Council, 2020).
The Japanese Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, approved in February 2021 does not set out a maximum period of detainment, leaving both detained without being told how long the detainment would last (Chase-Lubitz, 2021).
After reviewing the case, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention under the U.N. Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) concluded that the detainment of both men after their respected provisional releases “cannot be justified and is arbitrary”. In general, Japan only accepts around 0.25 percent of refugee applications it receives. (Human Rights Council, 2020).
The case continues, as the government’s Immigration Services Agency responded to the UN working group’s claim by registering protests against the working group (Murakami, 2022).
Sources and further readings:
Chase-Lubitz, J. (2021, March 23). Japan Considers Immigration Law Changes That Threaten Asylum-Seekers. Foreign Policy. https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/03/23/japan-immigration-law-change-asylum-seekers-refugees/
Human Rights Council. (202–09). Opinion No. 58/2020 concerning Deniz Yengin and Heydar
Safari Diman (Japan). Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Murakami, Y. (2022, January 10). Visa violators to sue Japan over long detainment lasting years | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis. The Asahi Shimbun. https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14518840
