Saitama court bans demonstrations over anti-Kurd hate speech

A Saitama court on Thursday ordered individuals who have been engaging in hate speech against a Kurdish group in Japan to refrain from holding demonstrations within a 600-meter radius of the group’s office in Saitama, the group’s lawyer said.
According to the complaint, a man from Kanagawa Prefecture and others have said things like “Kurds should get out of Japan” using loudspeakers at demonstrations around the Japan Kurdish Cultural Association’s office in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, as well as nearby stations, at least eight times since February.
The group filed for an injunction on Nov. 11 saying their personal rights have repeatedly been violated, and that the individuals are planning a rally on Sunday.
The Saitama District Court granted the injunction and banned the individuals from demonstrating near the office.
The injunction also banned acts that defame the group and are disrespectful, such as putting up banner flags or handing out fliers with hate speech like “Refugees should go back to their home countries.”
“The court injunction should be followed,” the group said in a statement.