Japan's Repeated Long-Term Detention of Refugee Applicants... UN Points Out "Violation of International Law"

"Foreigners Repeatedly Detained for Extended Periods Over the Past Decade"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyeon-jin] The Japanese government has been criticized by the United Nations (UN) for violating international law by detaining foreign nationals who applied for refugee status as illegal immigrants for extended periods.

According to the Asahi Shimbun on the 6th, the UN Human Rights Council's "Working Group on Arbitrary Detention" investigated the facts following requests from two foreign men who claimed to have been subjected to prolonged illegal detention by the Japanese government.

On the 23rd of last month, the working group sent an opinion letter to the Japanese government stating that such actions violate international human rights covenants. It pointed out that the foreign nationals were repeatedly detained for periods ranging from six months to three years over more than ten years without being notified of the reasons or duration, calling these measures "arbitrary actions without legal basis."

The working group also criticized Japan's Immigration Control Act for not specifying detention periods and for failing to review the necessity or rationality of detention. It recommended that the Japanese government promptly amend the relevant laws. Attorney Komai Jie said, "This is the first time Japan's immigration detention system has been clearly pointed out as violating international law."

However, it remains uncertain whether Japan will improve the system as recommended by the UN. Currently, the Japanese government and political circles are discussing amendments to the Immigration Control Act. But according to Asahi, proposals to set an upper limit on detention periods or to introduce judicial review during detention are likely to be postponed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.