Japanese Police spying on Muslims

Police in Tokyo have monitored the activities of Muslims in Japan, based on their religion alone, since at least 2008.

Police in Tokyo have monitored the activities of Muslims in Japan, based on their religion alone, since at least 2008.

On May 31, 2016, Japan’s Supreme Court dismissed the case questioning the legality of conducting surveillance on and profiling Muslims in Japan, even though surveillance based on religion or ethnicity is generally illegal under Japan’s constitution, which enshrines the right to privacy, equal protection under the law, and freedom of religion.

A court case challenging the constitutionality of this surveillance program was recently denied.

The fact that Tokyo police were conducting surveillance of Muslims first became public in 2010, when over 100 internal Metropolitan Police Department documents were leaked online.