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13 Kurds, kin submit new applications for refugee status in Japan+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, Jan. 12_(Kyodo) _ Six Kurds from Turkey seeking asylum in Japan, whose identities were earlier leaked to Turkish authorities by Japanese immigration officials, and seven members of their families submitted new applications for refugee status in Japan on Thursday. The Kurdish men and their wives and children had initially applied for refugee status beginning in 1996, but their applications were rejected. Japanese officials leaked their identities to Turkish authorities during background checks in 2004, prompting the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to announce that the action had put the applicants in danger. The Japan Federation of Bar Associations issued a warning to the Justice Ministry on Dec. 26 last year, urging the ministry to give special consideration to those who may be exposed to danger by background investigations. One of the men told reporters Thursday that after Japanese immigration officials leaked his identity to Turkish authorities, the military came to his parents' residence to conduct investigations. The asylum seekers, who are staying in Japan on provisional release status, have pending lawsuits over the government's refusal to grant them refugee status and its order for them to be sent back to Turkey. A decision on the new applications, filed with the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau, is expected in about six months to one year, according to Japan Lawyers' Network for Refugees. |