Kurdish people in Kawaguchi aim for coexistence through “night patrols”, amid growing criticism on SNS…but “I consider this town my home”: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

Kurdish people in and around Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, are focusing their efforts on patrolling and cleaning at night. In response to an increase in posts criticizing Kurds on social networking sites (SNS) and troubles occurring with local residents, the aim is to spread Japanese rules of life and encourage coexistence in the local community. In the background is a sense of crisis over the implementation of the revised Immigration Control and Refugee Act next year, which will make it easier to deport people.

◆ “If you talk, you will understand.” Walking and talking

A kebab restaurant near JR Warabi Station (Warabi City) where you can smell the aroma of grilling meat. At 8 p.m., 15 men and women gathered in front of the store. There were also Kurds, junior high school students, and Japanese people coming home from demolition and construction work. The leader is Sikan Waqqas (32), representative director of the Kurdish organization “Japan Kurdish Culture Association.” After walking around the shopping district and picking up trash, the group then gets into cars and spends two hours visiting more than 20 convenience stores and other locations.

In front of a convenience store, three Kurdish men were chatting in Turkish while drinking canned Chu-Hi. “If you stay there for a long time, everyone will hate you.” After Wacchus spoke, the men left. “If you talk to them, they will understand. Everyone is afraid that they will be watched more closely.”

Tours will be held once a week starting in September. It used to be held regularly, but it was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, since around this summer, criticism has increased on social media, with comments such as “Kurds driving around in overloaded cars.” In July, a Kurdish man slashed another Kurdish man with a knife in Kawaguchi City, leading to a riot that drew 100 Kurdish comrades to a hospital, which amplified criticism.

“We need to let people know about the rules of life in Japan in order to prevent a negative image.” Mr. Wakkas and others tried to coexist and resumed patrolling. The association receives complaints from citizens such as “people putting out garbage on the wrong day,” and checks are carried out on patrol. Pamphlets explaining Japanese traffic rules in Turkish will also be distributed.

The Kurdish people, who have a unique culture, are oppressed in Turkey, their main place of residence, and are forced to seek refuge in other countries as refugees. In Japan, 2,000 to 3,000 people live in and around Kawaguchi City. In Japan, where refugee recognition standards are strict, a significant number of people are ordered to leave the country and are on “provisional release,” unable to work and without health insurance cards.

If criticism intensifies in the region, the Immigration Services Agency may move to forcibly deport them. The revised Immigration Control and Refugee Act, which will make people who have applied for refugee status for the third time or more subject to deportation, will go into effect next summer.

Yasmin (41), a woman who diligently picks up trash, fled Turkey 17 years ago and is now on provisional release with her husband and child. She says, “I consider this city to be my hometown. I want to live in harmony with the people of the city.” A Japanese male office worker in his 50s who was invited to participate by a Kurdish acquaintance said, “Japanese people need to gather their wits so that we can coexist with them.” (Shinichi Ikeo)

◆”Allow provisionally released persons with no connection to crime to work,” Mayor Kawaguchi said.

“I want them to be able to work under certain conditions.” In an interview with this newspaper, Kawaguchi City Mayor Nobuo Okunoki took issue with the unstable situation in which many Kurds are placed on provisional release. He also emphasized the need for employment in terms of avoiding trouble.

In September of this year, Kawaguchi City submitted its second written request to the Minister of Justice following 2020. He pointed out that those on provisional release are “unable to work and are forced to live unstable lives” and “do not have health insurance and cannot receive proper medical care”, calling for the government to take action.

Mayor Okunoki said, “We need to crack down on acts such as runaway cars and violence between friends, and take strong measures such as deporting criminal law offenders.” He added, “I don’t want to exclude foreigners. “I would like the government to consider a system that would gradually allow unrelated persons on provisional release to work under certain conditions.” (Ao Ida)