Japan moves bill to deport people ‘who repeatedly apply for refugee status’

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Japanese parliament on Tuesday passed a controversial bill that allows the government to deport people “who repeatedly apply for refugee status.”

The passage of the bill in the lower house of the bi-cameral parliament, locally known as Diet, came “despite strong opposition from supporters of asylum seekers who claim that the envisioned revisions could result in the return of people at risk of persecution in their home countries,” Tokyo-based Kyodo News reported.

However, the bill will now go to the upper house for a final debate and vote. The bill was moved earlier this year.

Under current rule, Tokyo “cannot deport foreign nationals to their home countries while their refugee status applications are pending.”

“The bill would allow the government to repatriate those who fail to show why they should be granted refugee status when applying for the third time or later,” the report said.

However, if the bill becomes law after an upper house vote, Tokyo may also allow people from conflict-hit regions “quasi-refugee status" to allow them to remain in Japan even if they do not meet the criteria for refugees.

The government data showed Japan granted refugee status to 202 people last year, “a record high since it began granting it in 1982.”​​​​​​​