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Bangladesh asylum seeker deported after working for years in Japan

55 Comments
By Serajul Quadir and Thomas Wilson

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Japan is one of the few countries in the world that has it right. There is no reason anyone from any other country should be allowed to illegally enter any nation, Japan, US, the UK, France, Italy, Greece anywhere. It is totally crazy to allow floods of illegals into countries that they will never be a part of culturaly and there is no reason any country owe safe haven to people because they may come from countries in political upheaval. Time for people to deal with their own problems at home and not try to force themselves on other nations. Good for Japan. Finally we are getting a few same leaders in the USA who understand this and I am sure we will get more.

-23 ( +24 / -46 )

The trouble with law-it is a very linear process. Not only that, it takes time to reach a verdict On those points I have sympathy with this individual. However, by breaking other laws and in other countries,Mr Shekh is not going to win any sympathy from me.....

1 ( +9 / -8 )

Japan has a horrendous record of accepting asylum seekers, and they really are wanting in terms of human rights they way they allow abuse of these people at companies, then suddenly ship them out if they seek to stay legally. Meanwhile, they're actually RESTRICTING entry further!

In this man's case, if he is wanted over there for indeed committing violence against police and buildings then it's hard to say if he should be considered or not (as he said, they could be trumped up charges), but he had EASILY outstayed his visa -- which could only have been 1 to 3 years max -- by near 8 years, it seems, and the government and company turned a blind eye to it until suddenly detaining and expelling him? Guess Subaru made their mint off him and it was time to toss him away.

8 ( +19 / -11 )

Shekh had live to his nine years of fullest life. He probably have visited Tokyo Disneyland and enjoy 4 seasons. Beside the criminal charges, he contribute nothing during asylum seeking. One should wonder what if he happen to be isis sleeping cells for nine years. Better be safe than sorry.

-24 ( +10 / -34 )

"attacking police and damaging public property with explosives" asylum? More like evading prosecution.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

When there are floods of Japanese refugees escaping from Japan's return to the 1930s I am pretty sure that the humanitarians of the world will take up their cases and welcome them in.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

One should wonder what if he happen to be isis sleeping cells for nine years. Better be safe than sorry.

Considering he lived here for 9 years with no criminal arrest, other than being an illegal, and also considering IS wasn't a thing 9 years ago, I find that highly unlikely.

Lastly, the political party is a secularist party.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

"Countries" are a creation of the human imagination. Everyone should be allowed to trave and live freely anywhere in the world.

-3 ( +13 / -16 )

Good riddance. Japan knows that refugees eventually bite the hand that feeds them.

-9 ( +12 / -21 )

I find some people's attitude towards non-Japanese disturbing. In this case even more so. Bangladesh is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world. Relying on their legal system is utterly stupid. As the news article already state the govrrnment has already sent 2 former politicians to their death. To be honest Japan doesn't really care about people. Nationality is more important. The needs of corporate Japan overrides the needs of society is one such example. Maybe in the long run a declining population might change things. Then again it might make things worst.

9 ( +16 / -7 )

Surely Bangladesh would be the best place for him. He would be more at home there.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

Two things I find very depressing in this article.

In September, Tokyo announced plans to tighten restrictions on asylum seekers’ right to work and placed new curbs on some reapplicants.

So the system only accepts 11 people a year now, but the government still views it as too lenient and is actually making it harder for asylum seekers rather than easier. That is one.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has rejected calls from companies and politicians to relax strict controls on blue-collar migrants

In other words, even corporate Japan - whose word is usually law to people like Abe - wants more migrants like this guy from Bangladesh but Abe hates foreigners so much that on this one issue he is willing to ignore big business and mold policy solely on pig ignorant racism. Even though it is obviously self-defeating to Japan long term to do so.

Very depressing.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

@gokai_wo_maneku

"Countries" are a creation of the human imagination. Everyone should be allowed to trave and live freely anywhere in the world.

Try to cross the borders of a few countries illegally and you will see that it is more than just human imagination. Saying no one is allowed to enter is as foolish as saying everyone is allowed to enter. With that being said, I will leave you with a Chinese proverb.

Things will develop in the opposite direction when they become extreme.

@topic So the message of this article is that Japan should loosen its borders? Or is it that someone, who will be forgotten by everyone within 3 days, is sad because he can't stay in Japan?

As someone who's from where loosened asylum control has wrought nothing but chaos thus far (Germany), I am kind of happy that Japan says no. (even when delayed)

Plus, Japan is not really an easy/forgiving environment for refugees, either, so I don't think that the 2000something refugees in Japan right now have an easy time getting by.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Shame on he Japanese government.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

Bangladesh is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world. Relying on their legal system is utterly stupid

Yet this man's charges were dismissed by the Bangladeshi court, so that suggests it can be relied upon (at least some of the time).

The problem was that he hid from the charges. He will now have to account for his absence, but I doubt he would face a very serious punishment. He just needs to man up and accept it - or live in a cave for the rest of his life.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has rejected calls from companies and politicians to relax strict controls on blue-collar migrants, vowing to increase the number of women and elderly people in the labor force before letting in foreign manual workers.

Will only be a matter of time before workers are 'let in' (seriously, Reuters used that wording...!) under the guise of 'trainee programmes', only to be pigeonholed into questionable job titles in questionable circumstances under questionable contracts. In other words, have zero rights as a haken worker (or worse - wait, what is worse in Japan?). We all know how it will pan out.

Hope the govt. isn't forgetting it will need one million additional aged care workers needed by 2050.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I sympathize with anyone who's invested 9 years of their life somewhere only to have it all come crashing down. It must be horrible.

However, based on the facts, it's hard to see how he can be considered a genuine asylum seeker (even if he may have been at some point in the past). The UN Refugee Convention says that you can be granted asylum if you have a well founded fear of persecution based on reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

It seems to me that his fear of prosecution, let alone persecution, isn't particularly well founded. A court in Bangladesh has already thrown out the case and his own political party (the Awami League) has taken control of the government in the intervening years. It appears that the asylum claim rests on the technicality that the arrest warrant can't be lifted until he physically appears in court to hear that the case is being tossed out.

Even if he was to be prosecuted, it sounds like it would be for his politically motivated actions rather than solely for his political opinions, which is also (arguably) outside of the convention's scope of protection.

That said, I'm sure he's a very decent human being and I hope he's made some friends that can help him return to Japan using some other avenue and rebuild his life.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Almost all the Japanese in Hawaii and South America were just that, economic refugees during meiji and Taisho eras. About a decade or so, a group of Japanese who were resettled in Dominican republic took the Japanese government to court for having duped them to settle in an inhospitable place. The government won....as it always does. The Lord Voldemort wins.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Cogito Ergo SumDEC. 11, 2015 - 05:59PM JST

Almost all the Japanese in Hawaii and South America were just that, economic refugees during meiji and Taisho eras.

No, they were not. There is big difference between "economic refugees" and legal immigrants.

-7 ( +8 / -15 )

Every economic migrant who applies for asylum makes it that much harder for a genuinely persecuted individual to escape to a safer place.

You can feel sorry for someone who has obviously has gone back to a much worse lifestyle than he got used to in these 12 years, but the fact is that he took 3 years to apply for a refugee visa. Did it take him that long to realize that he had been persecuted?

There are poor people all over the world, displacing them en masse to developed countries is not the solution.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

So he had enough money to flee to Japan, but not to go to Saudi arabia ? Always greedy people...not a inch of relevance.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

So he had enough money to flee to Japan, but not to go to Saudi arabia ? Always greedy people...not a inch of relevance.

Always google,but can't be bothered to do a search before opining. The guy is a secularist, not a radical muslim. ALWAYS do research before offering up an ignorant, ill-informed opinion.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I was pointoung out that if you fear for your life, you don't need to go very far to get in secure conditions. Still, it was easy for him to well chose the country that would give him maximum return without any link to that country. Please go back to where you come from, becaus Shingen would have never accepted such a parasit. Secularist, Christian, buddhist, I don't care since it had nothing to do with chosing the country where he has done illegal things only.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Well, knowing how sensitive is Japan toward violence issue, I am pretty sure that the allegations concerning his past, had somehow a relevance, regardless of the fact if they were true or not. Plus he worked - knowingly - illegally while waiting for judgment. There is a streak of things that did not really sparkle and invite a lot of sympathy according to the standard Japanese criteria. Plus, it should be evaluated what was really the political threat at home and what for that was applied. There ware a lot of countries around the world with inhuman governments and situation that prosecute with doubtful reasons people. Nonetheless all those people can be seen as likely asylum seekers. It is a tricky issue... Usually there must be a specific and unmotivated insistence agains one single individual to make it a candidate. Not just political opposition...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I was pointoung out that if you fear for your life, you don't need to go very far to get in secure conditions. Still, it was easy for him to well chose the country that would give him maximum return without any link to that country.

Saudi Arabia and Japan are equidistant from Bangladesh. Saudi Arabia is a staunchly fundementalist muslim country, so it wouldn't make sense for him to go there. Frankly, if I were a refugee, I would go to the place I feltI had the best chance at living a better life. Hardly a smoking gun.

Again, the only thing he did illegal was stay in Japan and live here illegal. Now, how about the companies that employed him? Why no punishment for them?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I have no problems with this.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

I have no problems with this.

Me neither. I wish the US would deport a few people who have overstayed their welcome.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Note to US car buyers. Do not buy Subaru.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

There is something to be said that the West has erred on the side of insouciance in accepting immigrants,. That is a testimony to the societies there. The same may be said that here we have a shining example of 'Omotenashi Nippon'.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As someone who's from where loosened asylum control has wrought nothing but chaos thus far (Germany), I am kind of happy that Japan says no. (even when delayed)

Maybe Furan, Japan should have said "NO THANKS" to your entry and visa application. Would have saved a lot of chaos, huh?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

He was not Japanese! Therefor, he has no right to be in this country unless he is a second class citizen! Living in Japan and being a successful foreigner is again st the law! Go home gaijin!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Bangladesh is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world. Relying on their legal system is utterly stupid.

Are any of these reasons why this man should be staying in another sovereign nation?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

to all of you talking of "illegals" gokai_wo_maneku is correct. You think being an economic migrant is so bad, that you prefer to call yourself an"expat" instead? EVERYONE should enjoy freedom of movement. This guy has contributed to Japan via his labour and taxes paid (think every he buys an combini bento the consumption tax he is paying). Do you really believe you are morally superior because you are a "specialist in humanties/international services" visa, or you are interested in Japanese culture? Does that give you more right to be here than him?

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I have no problems with this. Me neither. I wish the US would deport a few people who have overstayed their welcome.

I wish that the USA would deport Trump and ALL of the teabaggers, THEN we can make some progress. Throw out the fundie Christians too!

Bangladesh is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world. Relying on their legal system is utterly stupid. Are any of these reasons why this man should be staying in another sovereign nation?

You are hilarious Veejay. GREAT humor for the day. Homerun.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Just think, if there were no national borders at all in the world, millions from poor countries would be pouring into the rich countries. Think of the chaos and social disruption that would cause. For better or for worse, it has to be a crime to cross a border illegally, and those laws need to be enforced. Life is not fair.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I wish that the USA would deport Trump and ALL of the teabaggers

I wish everyone and their mother would just stop coming to the US period.

I'm sure Japanese would not want hordes of 3rd world Bangladeshi's and their mothers everywhere too. After all, Japan "Does" belong to "Japanese." Thought it didn't?

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

@shumatsu, the Bangladeshi's line of reasoning in order to stay here in Japan is a bit similar to the reasoning of the Cordero's many yrs ago. The Cordero's claimed that they've been here for so long that they'll find it hard to adjust to the Phil way of life. So much so, that they've already forgotten how to speak their homeland's language which of course, is a bull shit. Many Filipinos living legally here in Japan and far longer than them speak the language with ease. Sometimes sympathy is misplaced and the kindness of Japanese is abused. Got to work with some without working papers and some who are on student visas but working 2 jobs which can be considered as 1 full time job considering their salaries, in all of these cases, they have a lot of complains re the work they're doing as if when they come to Japan, all they have to do is push some buttons and manipulate robots. I pity those students but when you work with most of them and see them sleepy most of the time, they seem to be abusing themselves and the govt. I sympathize with the illegals but they don't pay taxes nor contribute to the social security system while enjoying the smooth rail, public and social services like prompt garbage collection, I just can't help feeling annoyed. Or take for instance an OS woman who would deliberately gets pregnant with the Jboyfriend just so she can continue living here using the child as a leverage.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Left wing journalists and Human right organization are using that kind of methods for to pressure Australian Government for more than decade. Economy Asylum seekers are moving to developed nations and seeking refugee is hurting genuine refugee seeking asylum. Japanese human right activists should not fall for fake asylum seekers. Japanese Government should give only temporary visa limit to 5 years if the person was found to be genuine refugee and sending back his or her country political situation was improved. Japan should aware of what happening in Europe, America, UK and Australia. Those countries start with small population of Muslim migrants and refugees but after the decades population was growing up by family reunion program and new refugee arrived by illegal channel and legal channel. And then, the problem is taking off by culture and religion confrontation between the hosts and migrants. In Australia, Muslims are urging hosts and other migrants from difference background and religion to learn about Muslim culture and Islam religion rather than Muslim peoples integrated to main stream host nation and culture and tradition. I have heard about most of Muslims are talking about Australian white peoples do not own this land and Muslim peoples are right to migrant to Australia. Also Muslims said the Muslim was first peoples to land on Australia soil. I'm not white Australian but I'm thanking to first Australian white settlers for develop this land. Those first Australian white settlers had too much scarified their lives for today Australia regardless of they were convicts or Government's employees or ordinary settlers. Country like Australia is building nation prosperity with migrants but not all migrants are contributing nation prosperity and some migrants are sucking from nation. Politicians are scaring and afraid to tell truth about Muslim migrants. So Japanese Government must understand about effect of taking refugees and migrants into Japan. It's better to allow illegal workers and let them work in Japan. Don't let outsiders influence over Government's decision.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Inconvenient truth/politically incorrect fact: a sovereign nation has the right to accept or reject asylum seekers or immigrants at her discretion.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Papi2013 at Dec. 11, 2015 - 09:57PM JST

Note to US car buyers. Do not buy Subaru.

I believe Subaru North America and Subaru Japan are separate companies that have interlocking shares (similar to conglomerates in the States). Depending on amount of shares Subaru JP owns in Subaru American, they may have little to much influence.

TheRat at Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:40PM JST

I wish that the USA would deport Trump and ALL of the teabaggers, THEN we can make some progress. Throw out the fundie Christians too!

That would leave about 15% of the population !

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It seems some kind of semantic shift occurred few years ago. We always thought refugees where political opponents who were tortured, imprisoned journalists, political activists fighting dictatorships. It seems that today refugees are people who simply want to leave a poor place to go a new place that is rich, where there are jobs and safety. They think they are entitled to go to any rich nation because well their place is poor and that justify their right to go to your country.

Well, I have a problem with that. I came to Japan while following the rules, back home I worked hard to get degrees, saved money, looked for a job, found a Japanese company that wanted to recruit me, they sponsored my visa, I filled out forms, gave copies of my degrees, went through the process, got a 1 year work visa, then 3 years, then 3 years…I followed the rules, I like rules. I hate it when I am queuing and someone is cutting in line and go directly to the cashier. I don’t like those things.

This guy is not a refugee; most of them are not refugees. He is an economic migrant disguised as an asylum seeker. He and his compatriots made Bangladesh what it is, he and his compatriots just made the place crappy and they think they are entitled to move to another place to also make it crappy.

Why should we accept this one and not all the other ones? What makes this one special? While you are accepting few of them here, 3 million were born back home and 5 million became adults and are getting ready to reach your shores.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Don't see why you see him as a threat. Unless, for all your efforts you see yourself competing for the same job at Subaru. Is being an economic migrant a crime? Are you not an economic migrant yourself, or do you consider yourself an expatriate? If there were no demand for labour he wouldn't have been employed. Subaru wasn't a charity last time I checked.

Everyone should have the right to contribute the contribute to the place where they choose to live.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

So he worked here in Japan for years and overstayed his visa which is a nice way of saying he worked here 'illegally' for years. Of course the US faces this problem on a much larger scale but the idea that if you work illegally long enough in some countries and then you somehow become entitled to be 'legal' is ridiculous. Surely that is just a reward for not getting caught?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

No worries here mates-His Political Party is in power now(or is that what he fears?)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It would sure be nice to see Canada follow the procedures that Japan uses in keeping out Immigrants that do not help the Country!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

9 years means his application was properly considered so what's the problem? Deportation was the right outcome.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Think of the chaos and social disruption that would cause. For better or for worse, it has to be a crime to cross a border illegally, and those laws need to be enforced. Life is not fair.

Does that include me too scap? I, with three college degrees, and who had to work two part-time jobs (one of which was a night job) and then teach at FSU and still only scrap by on 1400 a month? Save, what, 200 dollars a YEAR! I couldn't board that plane to Japan fast enough! Or maybe your comment applies to people of color or who were poor! But, wait----I was POOR and I am a white, blue-eyed, pedigreed American (direct descendent from Roger Williams). Am I now a criminal scappy boy? Are you?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Crisgersan, I see the -18 but can't understand why. I'm with you on your post. Imagine the millions now seeking refuge. If they just stayed in their country and fought for their land and freedom, like most. I can't imagine an American seeking refuge in another country because the north and south are fighting. By leaving your country, you make it weaker and giving you no place to live in peace. However, this guy was able to live and work in Japan for 9 years. Why the change of heart? Who was he hurting?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Good! Bye bye! Immigrants take note and choose another country to try your luck at.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Japanese immigrants went to all over the Americas and still now, the Japanese have an aversion to legal migrants coming to Japan. All take and no give - that's always been the motto. It's just like how Japanese companies have spread so easily across the world, but they put up so many barriers for foreign companies to do business here (and when they do, it's always in collaboration with a local firm).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

People in Bangladesh wanted independence from Britain, and then later from Pakistan and that's fair enough. Now, having elected crooks year after year who have left their country a desperately-poor dump they wish to leave and be ruled by others once again.

I think it would be better if the UN took over these failing countries as the people there seem unable to form functional governments. The UN could impose law and order, a secular education system, enforce equality, and gradually seek to eliminate the backwards thinking that characterises the populations of so many failed countries.

No doubt the people in the affected coutries would be outraged by such a proposal, seeing it as a return of colonialism. If that's the case then I say they should sort their own mess out and not run away to other countries. You make your own bed, so lie in it.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"He was among 22 ILLEGAL immigrants" and "Shekh was charged with attacking police and damaging public property with explosives" said all. I see no reasons for him to get his asylum accepted. in my eyes Japan Have the best asylum process who check everything about applicant. They did the right thing.

People should open their eyes instead of befriend asylum seekers and giving asylum for everybody. French People got their lesson. People should think twice about their own country, friends and families safety before accepting any refugees. There is 2kk of refugees in EU right now. Lazy Cowards who seeks economy freedom not their safety, should go back and fight for their own country. 2kk is a big Force.

Fact is: Lithuania offered to accept 2000 refugees, how many of them applied? try to guess from 10 times. only 2 applied.

Asylum Process SHOULD be strict, It's not application for bank account. They have to take Refugee history, police records, personal experiences and many other things into account, before accepting it

3 ( +3 / -0 )

All asylum seekers from wherever they emanate have their own reasons to do so and in order to make their claims convincing to authorities in the country they aspire to settle in they add a dose of political persecution to their reasons to seek shelter elsewhere!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Three cheers for Japan. If asylum has been denied, he should leave. The last thing I would wish for Japan is to follow the disastrous path of France, Germany and Sweden down to civilizational suicide.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Ask his ex employers was he a good worker? Ask his colleagues did they think he was a good person? Those two qualities should be paramount.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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