Key Facts
• June 17, 2025: Tokyo District Court ruled detention of two men illegal.
• Court ordered the government to pay ¥1.2 million in compensation.
• Plaintiffs: Iranian and Turkish nationals detained despite medical diagnoses.
• Men sought ¥30 million in damages for unjust immigration detention.
• Court cited violations of international human rights treaties.
• Detention deemed unnecessary given lack of sufficient justification.
• Plaintiffs diagnosed with depression; detention deemed harmful to health.
• Immigration law itself not ruled as violating international human rights.
• Plaintiffs had been in Japan since 1991 and 2007, respectively.
• Immigration Bureau to review ruling and respond appropriately.
Summary
The Tokyo District Court ruled on June 17, 2025, that the detention of two foreign nationals by Japan’s Immigration Bureau was illegal, ordering the government to pay ¥1.2 million in compensation. The Iranian and Turkish plaintiffs, who had been in Japan since 1991 and 2007, were detained despite medical diagnoses indicating that detention was inappropriate. The court found the detentions violated international human rights treaties, as they lacked sufficient justification and harmed the individuals’ health. While the plaintiffs argued that Japan’s immigration law itself violated international human rights standards, the court rejected this claim, noting that legal recourse for temporary release was available. The ruling was described as groundbreaking for emphasizing compliance with human rights treaties, though the plaintiffs’ legal team expressed disappointment that the law itself was not deemed unjust. The Immigration Bureau stated it would carefully review the ruling and respond accordingly.
