Japan’s government drops bill aiming to revise immigration law

ANKARA (AA) - Japan's government has decided to drop a bill aiming to revise the immigration law after strong protest from human rights activists and opposition parties, local media reported on Tuesday.

According to Kyodo News Agency, the decision came as opposition parties announced to block the proposed legislation in the parliament and called on the government to investigate the death of a Sri Lankan woman who was under detention at an immigration facility.

Ratnayake Liyanage Wishma Sandamali, 33, died on March 6 after complaining of stomach ache and other symptoms from mid-January.

According to the news agency, opposition parties and human rights activists are of the view that the proposed revision of the law would violate the principle of non-refoulement, which guarantees that asylum seekers would not be returned to the country they fled.

Opposition lawmakers also viewed that the new legislation would expand the immigration authority's power and discretion.

Earlier on April 9, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had also expressed serious concerns over the bill.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid​​​​​​​