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Osaka Court Again Overturns Asylum Denial for LGBTQ Refugee
Is Japan warming up to refugees? An Osaka court has overturned a denial of a gay man’s request for asylum — the second time it’s done so.
By Kristina Rin Fujikake
Japan is not a country famous for accepting refugees with open arms. A majority of those who apply are denied; in 2023, there was an acceptance rate of only 3.8 percent.
Sadly, that’s a record high for the G7 nation. Their stringent rulings have caused human rights groups to urge Japan to align its refugee policies with international standards.
However, that doesn’t mean that refugees are automatically rejected. Last week, the Osaka District Court ruled in favor of a North African man fleeing persecution due to his sexual orientation. This is the second time the court has overturned such a decision.
A Desperate Plea for Reconsideration
With his identity kept anonymous for safety reasons, the man fled to Japan in December 2019. Upon arriving in Osaka, he eagerly applied for refugee status in January 2020. He faced social discrimination and family abuse in his home…
