The Tokyo District Court has approved a request by five Afghans seeking refugee status in Japan that their detention by immigration authorities be stopped.
Presiding Judge Masayuki Fujiyama said Tuesday the immigration authorities need not detain the Afghans because they had accepted being questioned before they were detained. He also said such treatment would "violate their human rights and hamper their efforts to seek refugee status."
The court's decision to end the Afghans' detention can only be overturned by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Unless the prime minister files an objection, the five are expected to be released Friday morning.