Japan: Foreign-born residents sue government for alleged racial profiling - BBC News

The three men say they have suffered distress from repeated police questioning based on their appearances.

9 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Matthew (left), Syed Zain and Maurice have filed a lawsuit against state and local governments over alleged racial profiling,By Kelly NgBBC NewsThree foreign-born residents in Japan have sued the country's authorities over alleged racial profiling.

The plaintiffs say they have suffered distress from repeated police questioning based on their appearances.

"There's a very strong image that 'foreigner' equals 'criminal'," Pakistan-born Syed Zain told reporters.

The lawsuit filed on Monday aims to confirm that racial profiling is illegal and to seek 3m yen ($20,250; £15,740) in damages for each plaintiff.

This is the first such lawsuit in Japan, according to the men's lawyer, Motoki Taniguchi.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-68137532?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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