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MILLION YEN FOR DETAINMENT, Asylum-seeker sues state
for damages
Tokyo told Turkish cops about Kurd now in
detention
A Kurdish asylum-seeker, whose personal information
was released to Turkish authorities by Japanese
immigration officials last summer, was detained
Friday by the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau,
lawyers said.
The Kurd, whose name has been withheld, made his
monthly appearance Friday at the immigration bureau
in Tokyo's Minato Ward to have his provisional
release renewed, but was denied and detained.
"(He) came to Japan in fear of persecution back home
(in Turkey), but since the investigation by Japanese
immigration officials in Turkey last summer, his
status has become even more vulnerable," said
Takeshi Ohashi, one of the lawyers supporting
Kurdish asylum-seekers. "He needs protection, not
detention."
Last July, Japanese immigration officials traveled
to Turkey and cooperated with authorities there to
look into the backgrounds of Kurdish asylum-seekers
in Japan, including the latest detainee.
"Because of this, (the Kurd's) father was questioned
by Turkish police in January," said Masashi
Ichikawa, the man's lawyer. "(The father) was told
that Turkish police were looking for (him)."
The Kurd's brother, Halil, who fled to Australia in
2000, where he was recognized as a refugee and given
citizenship, expressed his disbelief over his
brother's situation.
"The Australian government believed me, but why
didn't the Japanese believe my brother?" Halil
asked. "I don't understand. Aren't we (of) the same
blood?"
The Kurd, who arrived in Japan in 1994, has
repeatedly applied for refugee status for fear of
persecution for supporting Kurdish rights activists.
In March, the Tokyo District Court dismissed his
lawsuit to reverse the Justice Ministry decision
denying him refugee status. He appealed to the Tokyo
High Court last week.
www.japantimes.co.jp
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