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Racism in the Justice System

IMADR recognizes that minorities are often marginalized or victimized in the administration and functioning of the criminal justice system. Through the Sayama International Solidarity Campaign, and raising awareness of the CERD’s General Recommendation 31 on the prevention of racial discrimination in the administration and functioning of the criminal justice system, IMADR works toward the elimination of racism in the administration of justice in both Japan and around the world.

The Sayama Case
In May 1963, Kazuo Ishikawa, a man of Buraku origin (a caste-like Japanese minority) from the town of Sayama, north of Tokyo, was convicted and sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit. After 32 years in prison, Ishikawa was released on probation in 1994. Since his conviction, three appeals for retrial have been submitted in an effort to clear his name. The first two appeals were rejected by the courts. The latest, filed on May 23, 2006, offers a rich body of new evidence supporting Ishikawa’s innocence.

The Sayama Case highlights fundamental problems with the Japanese criminal justice system, and makes clear the persistent discriminatory stereotyping of Buraku people. On the heels of the third appeal, IMADR, in solidarity with the Buraku Liberation League and the Citizen’s Support Group for the Sayama Case, launched the Sayama International Solidarity Campaign to help lobby for change in the criminal justice system and fight anti-Buraku discrimination. Visit the Sayama Case website to learn more.

Injustice around the world
Dalits in India are also accused of crimes they have not committed and some even die from torture. Roma throughout Europe are considered by police to be "dangerous" and are the victims of police violence. In many countries, such as the US, since 9.11, Muslims have also been treated the same way. Immigrants and asylum seekers are being marginalized by the authorities and society in general. In the meantime, those responsible for racism in the administration of justice are not being held to account.

Around the world, the police are carrying out investigations on the basis of race, ethnicity and birthplace, and are not apprehended for these discriminatory actions. International society has put systems in place to prevent this from happening, and racism in the administration of justice has been acknowledged as a global problem by the UN.

Sayama International Solidarity Campaign

In October 2006, IMADR’s Sayama International Solidarity Campaign Site was launched. The comprehensive website introduces the Sayama Case and aims to increase international awareness of Buraku discrimination, strengthen ties between organizations worldwide that are fighting racial discrimination in the administration of justice, and put international pressure on the Japanese government to change the way suspects are treated.

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