Japan has granted refugee status to 98 people who have fled Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power last August, government sources said Tuesday, in a rare move for a country with a poor record on giving asylum.
The number of newly recognized refugees, which include staff who were working at the Japanese Embassy in Kabul and their family members, exceeded the record 74 refugees accepted by Japan in 2021.
Japan's recognition of the Afghan refugees could affect its future acceptance of people fleeing from countries experiencing conflict, including Myanmar and Ukraine.