A detained Rohingya asylum seeker released in Japan
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| Rohingya asylum seeker Noor Farid |
RB News
August 16, 2013
Eight and half months ago, Noor Farid, a stateless and oppressed Rohingya was detained by the Japan immigration. It was his good fortune that he was released on August 13, 2013 with the resident visa status. It was very strange news for all Rohingya's living in Japan. It has never happened to any Rohingya who were detained under the refugee recognition procedure.
“It was a happiest and great moment for all It was a happiest and great moment for all Rohingya celebrating Eidul Fitri together after Eid prayer at Tatebayashi Salamat Mosque. They have been wishing each other happy Eid Mubarak by visiting door to door. Most of the Rohingya community members were consciously worried for the Rohingya brother Noor Farid who is in the Ushiku immigration detention center since last November. All of Rohingya community members prayed for him to be released as soon as possible. While he was in the detention center most of our members frequently visited him including our new president, vice president and secretary general.” Wrote in an e-mail by the Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan (BRAJ) to RB News.
The President of BRAJ Mr Hasegawa (a.k.a) Haroon Rashid took responsibility to apply “provisional release” for Noor Farid but the immigration officers consecutively rejected three times. And later submitted for forth time. The immigration officer from Ushiku detention centre made a phone call to BRAJ’s president on the Eid festival day and informed him that the application for provisional release is approved but need to deposit Yen 500,000 Yen (5,000 USD). Mr Rashid, president of BRAJ requested the officer to reduce the amount. However the officer advised him to send an appeal letter.
BRAJ sent an appeal letter to the Director General of Ushiku detention centre, the Ministry of Justice and concerned immigration authority. It was fortunate of the detainee Noor Farid that the concerned immigration authority sympathized and released him with resident visa status. “We are very grateful to the Ministry of Justice and Immigration for granting permission to stay in Japan. Our association’s executive committee and members are very much thankful to the government of Japan.” wrote in the e-mail from BRAJ to RB News.
“The Rohingya community living in Japan is the most persecuted people of Myanmar under the military regime. We hereby pledge that we will guide the whole Rohingya community living in Japan to abide by Japanese laws, respect Japanese culture, and peaceful coexistence with local people.” added in the e-mail.
