Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2015 September 30 - October 6 [POLITICS]

Scholars condemn threat to student activist opposing war legislation

A group of scholars opposing the war legislation on October 2 issued a statement condemning a threatening letter sent to Okuda Aki, who heads a students’ organization opposing the war legislation.

Okuda is a student of Meiji Gakuin University and a member of the student group SEALDs (Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy-s). He is a prominent figure in the organization and was the one given the chance to express his opposition to the war legislation in a Diet hearing.

On September 28, Okuda tweeted that he received a death threat via his university. In response to questioning by the press, Meiji Gakuin University officials admitted that the university received a threatening letter addressed to Okuda on September 24 and informed the police.

The scholars’ statement states, “To suppress the freedom of speech and expression by threat of violence is totally unacceptable as it poses a serious challenge to democracy.” The statement expresses a strong condemnation of the threatening letter and calls on the general public to embrace and protect the principle of democracy.