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Tokyo Court Dismisses Petition against Abe State Funeral

REUTERS file photo
Motorcade carrying the body of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot while campaigning for a parliamentary election, passes in front of Japan’s National Diet Building after the funeral in Tokyo, Japan July 12, 2022.

Jiji Press

11:25 JST, September 13, 2022

Tokyo (Jiji Press)—Tokyo District Court has dismissed a petition against the Sept. 27 state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe without holding a hearing.

In the petition, led by academic people, 576 citizens sued the government in order to block the funeral, claiming that such an event would violate the Constitution.

In a ruling dated Friday, Presiding Judge Yukito Okada declared that there is no law enabling a halt to state budget implementation through a petition, a team of lawyers for the plaintiffs said Monday.

Okada also rejected the plaintiffs’ claim that the government’s decision to hold the funeral would lead to a situation in which the public is obliged to mourn the death of Abe.

Meanwhile, a different section of the court will continue to examine a damages claim seeking ¥100 in consolation money per plaintiff filed by the citizens’ side.