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HRW urges Japan to repeal law criminalizing desecration of its national flag
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

HRW urges Japan to repeal law criminalizing desecration of its national flag

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Human Rights Watch urged Japan to repeal a new law that criminalizes desecration of the national flag.
  • HRW argues the law violates freedom of expression and could be used to silence protests.
  • The law imposes fines or imprisonment for damaging or disrespecting the flag, drawing criticism from opposition parties and experts.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling on Japan to immediately repeal a recently enacted law that criminalizes the desecration of its national flag, asserting that the legislation infringes upon the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

"The Japanese law against flag desecration poses a direct threat to freedom of expression," stated Teppei Kasai, HRW's Asia representative. "By undermining this fundamental right, the law sends a message that puts basic liberties at risk for everyone." Kasai added that the law provides Japanese authorities with "a perfect tool to silence protests against the state" and urged the government to "repeal this law and show the world that Japanese democracy is strong enough to tolerate dissent."

The Japanese law against flag desecration poses a direct threat to freedom of expression. By undermining this fundamental right, the law sends a message that puts basic liberties at risk for everyone.

— Teppei KasaiHRW's Asia representative, explaining the organization's concerns about the new Japanese law.

The law, which received final parliamentary approval last week, establishes penalties of up to 200,000 yen (approximately $1,226) or imprisonment for up to two years for anyone who "publicly damages, removes, or desecrates the national flag" in a manner that causes "significant discomfort or disgust" to others.

provides Japanese authorities with a perfect tool to silence protests against the state

— Teppei KasaiHRW's Asia representative, criticizing the potential misuse of the law.

The legislation has faced significant backlash not only from opposition parties, such as the Constitutional Democratic Party, which labeled the law "diabolical" and "extremely dangerous and harmful," but also from legal experts who fear it could foster impunity for actions against the government.

HRW pointed out that Japan is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, whose Article 19 protects freedom of expression. Restrictions on this right are permissible only to protect public order or national security, and must be necessary and proportionate. The UN Human Rights Committee has clarified that offending patriotic sentiment or expressing "deeply offensive" speech does not justify criminal punishment, as states should not prohibit criticism of institutions.

repeal this law and show the world that Japanese democracy is strong enough to tolerate dissent.

— Teppei KasaiHRW's call to the Japanese government.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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