On the 4th, Tsurugashima City Council in Saitama Prefecture made an unusual decision to ask a female city councilor to refrain from using her title in her public posts. This move was in response to threats, including a bomb threat at the city hall, which were impacting city operations. The councilor had been vocal on social media against discrimination towards Kurdish people and had received death threats herself. Critics argue that the council should first address these heinous crimes instead of shifting blame to the councilor.
On the day of the city council meeting, about 20 people gathered outside, urging the council to protect the councilor and condemn criminal acts. The resolution, aimed at Emi Fukushima, asks her to stop using her title when expressing personal opinions, citing concerns about public safety and administrative impact. The resolution passed quickly with 14 out of 15 members in favor, despite objections from the audience urging for debate.
Fukushima had been actively posting on social media against discrimination and misinformation. She began facing criticism from other council members and journalists around March 2023. In late June, another city council member posted on social media urging people to disrupt her activities, which led to approximately 100 complaints to the city demanding her resignation.
In response to these tensions, the council chairman repeatedly asked Fukushima to refrain from using social media and to make her contact information public, both of which she refused. A severe threat was made against Fukushima in July, but no harm occurred.
In contrast, similar threats in Kanagawa Prefecture were met with a strong stance from the Kawasaki City Council, which condemned any threats to democratic processes. After the Tsurugashima council meeting, Fukushima expressed disappointment in the council’s handling compared to Kawasaki. She stated that she would continue to fight against the threats and criticized the council for targeting her, suggesting it was partly because she is an independent female councilor.
Since Fukushima publicized the council’s actions regarding the resolution on social media, there has been an increase in inquiries questioning the council’s decision.
by MagazineKey4532