Gov't appeals ruling against passport denial for Japanese journalist

The Japanese government on Wednesday appealed a district court ruling that found it illegal not to reissue a passport to journalist Jumpei Yasuda after he was held captive in Syria for more than three years amid the civil war there.The 49-year-old freelance war reporter filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court in 2020, demanding the state rescind the decision to reject his passport issuance on grounds the move violates the freedom to travel abroad guaranteed by the Constitution.The court ruled on Jan. 25 that the government's denial to issue a passport amounted to a deviation or abuse …READ FULL ARTICLE