A bill under deliberation in the Upper House to fingerprint foreigners entering Japan, which backers say is a necessary counterterrorism measure, must be defeated at all costs because it is discriminatory and vague, human rights groups said Wednesday.
If passed, the bill will make fingerprinting and photographing mandatory for all foreigners arriving in Japan. The data collected would then be checked against a list of past deportees and those on an international wanted list. Under the bill's provisions, those determined by the Justice Ministry to be terrorists would be deported.
At a meeting of Diet members, lawyers and human rights groups, participants voiced strong opposition to the proposed revisions to the immigration law, which cleared the Lower House last week.