Testimony begins in lawsuit accusing Japanese police of racial profiling

 A civil lawsuit accusing Japanese police of racial profiling opened Monday with emotional testimony from plaintiffs who said they were constantly stopped and questioned without good reason.

The case, filed in January by three residents of Japan with overseas ancestry, including an American, claims their treatment constitutes discrimination and violates their human rights.

Japan does not have any anti-discrimination law, nor any laws or guidelines aimed at preventing racial profiling, but the government and the police deny they discriminate and say they are just doing their jobs. They have yet to outline the specifics of their arguments, expected in the next session of court in July. A verdict is expected in about a year.

“We are relaying our feelings, our experiences and our views,” said plaintiff Syed Zain, a Japanese citizen of Pakistani descent, speaking to reporters after appearing in Tokyo District Court.

Zain said he has been treated like a criminal, despite having lived in Japan for two decades, having attended Japanese schools as a child, and being fluent in the language. He wants to be recognized as a Japanese person and to help make Japan a better place, he said.

He and his two fellow-plaintiffs are suing the national government and police, as well as the prefectural police of Tokyo and Aichi prefectures.

The case, which could prove a landmark for Japan, has drawn widespread support and attention in a nation reputed for friendly “community policing” and a relatively low crime rate.

It also highlights how a culture that prides itself on its insularity is grappling with the recent influx of people from abroad. The number of non-citizens living in Japan reached a record high recently, with more than 3.2 million people.

The lawsuit demands 3 million yen (about $20,000) in punitive damages per plaintiff as compensation for “unconstitutional and illegal” treatment, plus 300,000 yen (about $2,000) per plaintiff in attorneys’ fees.

Source : https://apnews.com/article/japan-police-racial-profiling-lawsuit-d626a974fa533cc0c8a174ce1795b5b7

Comprehension

What is the case about that opened in Tokyo District Court on Monday?
Who filed the case and when?
What do the plaintiffs claim is their treatment?
What is the government's stance on the issue?
What is the expected timeline for the verdict?
Who are the plaintiffs and what do they want to achieve?
Who are the defendants in the case?
Why could the case be significant for Japan?

Discussion

Have you ever experienced or witnessed racial profiling? How did it make you feel?
Do you think racial profiling is a common issue in Japan? Why or why not?
What do you think about Japan's lack of anti-discrimination laws?
How do you think the influx of people from abroad affects Japanese culture?
Should there be a punishment for racial profiling? Why or why not?
Do you think the plaintiffs will win the case? Why or why not?
How can racial profiling be prevented in any country?
Should there be a law against racial profiling in Japan? Why or why not?
How can cultural insularity contribute to racial profiling?
Do you think the amount of compensation demanded by the plaintiffs is reasonable? Why or why not?

Vocabulary

Plaintiff - a person who brings a case against another in a court of law
Racial profiling - the use of race or ethnicity as a basis for law enforcement decisions
Discrimination - the unfair treatment of people based on certain characteristics
Human rights - the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled
Anti-discrimination law - a law that prohibits discrimination based on certain characteristics
Punitive damages - damages awarded to a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit to punish the defendant for wrongdoing
Attorneys' fees - the costs of legal services provided by a lawyer
Unconstitutional - contrary to the principles of a constitution
Insularity - the quality of being narrow-minded or unsociable
Influx - a large and sudden arrival or increase of people or things