Japan’s top government spokesman defended Feb. 9 the decision by the Foreign Ministry to confiscate the passport of a freelance photographer who had planned to travel to Syria.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government “has the extremely important duty of ensuring the safety of Japanese citizens who travel or live abroad.”
The ministry stopped Yuichi Sugimoto, 58, from traveling to Syria by confiscating his passport on Feb. 7, the first time it has taken such a step. (Kyodo)
菅義偉官房長官は2月9日の記者会見で、シリアへの渡航を計画していたフリーカメラマン杉本祐一さん(58)に対する外務省の旅券返納命令の正当性を主張した。
The Japan Times ST: February 20, 2015