Japan: Kurdish asylum-seekers face deportation

"The Japanese authorities must stop the deportation of Hasan Cikan and another Kurdish asylum-seeker (name withheld)," the organization said.

Although the two men applied for temporary asylum on 23 February, the immigration official failed to convey this to the refugee inquirer until three days later after pressure from their lawyers. The asylum seekers were asked to sign a voluntary deportation order but refused.

"Japan's asylum procedure goes against the spirit of the Refugee Convention. Those fleeing persecution in their home country should be treated fairly and with dignity while their application is being processed."

Amnesty International is calling on the Japanese government to introduce greater transparency in the refugee recognition procedure. The asylum procedure requires an effective monitoring system to ensure that all asylums applications are fairly considered by the authorities.

For a full briefing on this case please contact AI Japan +81 3 3203 1050.