Friday, June 24, 2011

739 signatures in support of urgent prosecution

Today, a petition with 739 signatures was submitted to the Chiba District Public Prosecutor's Office in an effort to push for the urgent prosecution of the case of Abubakar Awudu Suraj's death. Suraj's widow handed the petition directly to the prosecutor in charge, Murakami. Murakami only accepted the petition and did not comment on the likely handling of the case, but we are confident that the weight of the 739 signatures and the wishes that each represents were understood well by him.


Six months have already passed since investigation papers were officially delivered to prosecutors late last year. The signatures are expected to act as a push for prosecution.

We would like to thank everyone who signed the petition. The fact so many people helped Suraj's widow and her and her late husband's friends circulate the petition tells us that countless people are eager to see the truth of this case come to light.

An APFS staff member and Suraj's widow at the Chiba District Public Prosecutors Office

The collected petitions can be seen in the staff member's left hand

Currently, lawyers from our legal team are considering filing a civil suit against the Japanese government with regard to Suraj's death. We will continue to update you on developments at both APFS' blog and website. Thank you for your continued support!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The article from one volunteer (Ms. Son)


Hello. This is Son who is volunteering in APFS.
Today, I went to immigration authorities in Shinagawa with Mr. Kato, the representative of APFS. I was so nervous the day before visiting here because it was first time to visit immigration authorities and have interviews with the detainees. There is the detention center on the overhead of the high building. I heard about the detention center that once they are taken in, they can’t go outside and act freely; so I experienced a feeling of strangeness that it exists in our usual life. The detainees whom I met have been in Japan for about 20 years, and they’ve never committed a crime except overstay. Taking arrested is an extraordinary experience for me, but they always live their life with the fear of taking arrested. Their sufferings are beyond my imagination and too much to bear. I strongly thought that I wish I would visit the detention center by myself and support as many people as I can.