Justice Minister Hideo Usui has granted special residence permits to an Iranian family of four who have overstayed their visas, lawyers representing the family said.

But while permission was granted to this family, based in Japan for about 10 years, the minister rejected petitions filed in December by four other families with a combined 13 members, the lawyers said Friday.

The ministry detained the fathers of the four families to begin the expulsion process but temporarily allowed the mothers and children to remain at home. The four families are planning to file suit against the decision.