Japan: Abusive punishments in Japanese prisons

Index Number: ASA 22/004/1998
Date Published: 31 May 1998
Categories: Asia And The Pacific, Japan

This report documents several cases where prisoners in Japan have faced cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment through the use of handcuffs and other instruments of restraint, and the imposition of severe penalties for minor infractions of complex prison rules. AI calls upon the Japanese government to review this situation with a view to repealing or amending those regulations which do not meet international human rights standards.