A freelance photographer who was prevented from going to Syria when the Foreign Ministry confiscated his passport in the wake of the Islamic State hostage crisis this month expressed concern Thursday his case will set a precedent that will undermine freedom of the press in Japan.
"I am extremely surprised and shocked to suddenly face this confiscation of my passport. Losing my passport means losing my job as a freelance photographer. This means my life has been denied," said Niigata-based photographer Yuichi Sugimoto, 58.
Sugimoto, who has covered strife-riddled countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Palestinian Territories, said he fears he won't be the only journalist affected by government intervention.