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Japan holds Nigerian asylum seeker in solitary confinement | Japan holds Nigerian asylum seeker in solitary confinement |
(1 day later) | |
A Nigerian asylum seeker says she is being held in solitary confinement in Tokyo after her claim was denied. | |
Elizabeth Aruoriwo Obueza, 48, was detained two weeks ago after the government dismissed her appeal to stay in Japan for protection against religious persecution. | Elizabeth Aruoriwo Obueza, 48, was detained two weeks ago after the government dismissed her appeal to stay in Japan for protection against religious persecution. |
But a rights group says she is being held on her own because she is an activist for asylum seekers. | But a rights group says she is being held on her own because she is an activist for asylum seekers. |
Japan rejected 99% of asylum requests last year, accepting just 27 refugees. | Japan rejected 99% of asylum requests last year, accepting just 27 refugees. |
The Nigerian, an evangelical Christian, says she fled from Nigeria to Japan in 1991 to escape female genital mutilation and applied for asylum in 2011. | The Nigerian, an evangelical Christian, says she fled from Nigeria to Japan in 1991 to escape female genital mutilation and applied for asylum in 2011. |
Her arrest comes as the justice ministry is trying to reduce the number of foreigners living in Japan without visas, currently about 60,000. | Her arrest comes as the justice ministry is trying to reduce the number of foreigners living in Japan without visas, currently about 60,000. |
But her lawyer told the BBC she was being particularly targeted by the authorities because she petitioned the Japanese government for better conditions for asylum seekers. | But her lawyer told the BBC she was being particularly targeted by the authorities because she petitioned the Japanese government for better conditions for asylum seekers. |
How bad is solitary confinement? | How bad is solitary confinement? |
What's it like to spend decades in solitary confinement? | What's it like to spend decades in solitary confinement? |
How solitary broke a man named Badness | How solitary broke a man named Badness |
Ms Obueza says she has spent 22 hours a day alone in a small cell since being detained. | Ms Obueza says she has spent 22 hours a day alone in a small cell since being detained. |
"Elizabeth is held in solitary because she's an activist and immigration officials don't want her causing trouble," said Mitsuru Miyasako, head of the Provisional Release Association in Japan, a group representing refugees and immigrants. | "Elizabeth is held in solitary because she's an activist and immigration officials don't want her causing trouble," said Mitsuru Miyasako, head of the Provisional Release Association in Japan, a group representing refugees and immigrants. |
"Locking someone up alone in a tiny room is to ruin them psychologically." | "Locking someone up alone in a tiny room is to ruin them psychologically." |
The Japanese authorities did not comment. | The Japanese authorities did not comment. |
Ms Obueza had campaigned for asylum seekers and people on "provisional release", a status that allows migrants to live outside a detention facility but barring them from working or travelling freely. | Ms Obueza had campaigned for asylum seekers and people on "provisional release", a status that allows migrants to live outside a detention facility but barring them from working or travelling freely. |
People on provisional release are being specifically targeted by the authorities, activists and lawyers say. | People on provisional release are being specifically targeted by the authorities, activists and lawyers say. |
She has also spent the last 10 years helping asylum seekers navigate the immigration system and has previously been detained for 10 months. | She has also spent the last 10 years helping asylum seekers navigate the immigration system and has previously been detained for 10 months. |
"I want to help people. Give me the right to help people - don't put me in here," Ms Obueza told Reuters news agency. | "I want to help people. Give me the right to help people - don't put me in here," Ms Obueza told Reuters news agency. |
The crackdown on asylum seekers comes as Japan faces a impending labour shortage due to its the ageing population. | The crackdown on asylum seekers comes as Japan faces a impending labour shortage due to its the ageing population. |
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