In southern Saitama Prefecture, where many Kurdish residents live, a prefectural assembly member and a Kawaguchi city council member filed a criminal complaint against Kurdish individuals. The politicians claimed they were attacked while inspecting a demolition company’s storage yard operated by Kurds. The politicians described the incident as a “serious interference with official duties,” while the Kurdish individuals expressed frustration over their daily lives being invaded, allegedly due to activities like unauthorized photography.
The incident occurred on June 2 when several officials, including Saitama Prefectural Assembly member Kosuke Takagi and Kawaguchi City Council member Seiichi Okutomi, were viewing the yard from a van. They heard what they described as the sound of someone hitting their vehicle. After attempting to flee, they ended up surrounded by three cars and were verbally attacked by individuals thought to be Kurdish.
The politicians admitted to not getting prior permission from Kurdish representatives before the visit, claiming that sometimes it is not necessary when addressing negative issues. They were also questioned about whether they took unauthorized photos, which is a sensitive issue due to prior incidents where Kurds were filmed and targeted on social media.
The Japanese Kurdish Cultural Association criticized the politicians’ actions as contrary to political and ethical principles, emphasizing the importance of seeking permission before visiting or photographing private property. Mori cited public roads as the basis for not needing permission, questioning if areas exist where Japan’s sovereignty does not apply.
During a press conference, a reporter asked if addressing the Kurds’ fear of being secretly filmed was also the politicians’ responsibility, as Kurds are part of the local community. Okutomi responded by saying his focus is on the complaints from Japanese residents.
by MagazineKey4532