• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Families of kidnapped Japanese: please let’s appease

Apr 9, 2004 7:20 am By Robert Spencer

capt.sge.fuz10.090404105213.photo00.default-256x384.jpeg
The families of three Japanese nationals kidnapped in Iraq tearfully begged the government to pull its troops out (AFP)

Terrorism: it works! Now it’s the families of the Japanese kidnapped in Iraq who are asking the Japanese government “” begging, in fact “” to behave like Spain and get their troops out of Iraq, so that they can have their loved ones back.

My heart goes out to these people. I can only dimly imagine the horrors they must be experiencing while those they love are at the mercy of these heartless, godless thugs. But the lesson of history is unanimous on this point: if the Japanese give in to them, they will not be satisfied. They will be back for more, again and again. The Spanish appeasers are already experiencing this.

TOKYO (AFP) – The families of three Japanese nationals kidnapped in Iraq and threatened with execution, tearfully begged the government to pull its troops out of the country as Tokyo reiterated there would be no withdrawal.

Seven relatives of the three hostages, whom gunmen are threatening to burn alive unless Japan pulls its troops out of Iraq within three days, flew to Tokyo to plead with government officials for a military withdrawal.

Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi and other officials met them for about 50 minutes, assuring that the government would do its utmost to rescue them, while stopping short of responding directly to their request for a troop withdrawal.

The meeting followed the broadcast of harrowing television footage showing the three Japanese in captivity, surrounded by masked militants from a group calling themselves the “Mujahedeen Brigades”.

“Please bring back the three unharmed. If circumstances allow, I ask (the government) to withdraw the Self-Defense Forces (military),” one family member was quoted by Jiji Press as telling Kawaguchi.

Another family member asked in desperation: “I want you to solve this now. Why can’t the Self-Defense Forces withdraw?,” according to Jiji.

Japan has deployed some 550 troops to the southern Iraqi city of Samawa for humanitarian work, despite widespread opposition on the grounds the move violated the country’s post-war pacifist constitution.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since the hostage crisis began, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed Friday Japan would not pull troops out of Iraq.

“We must not yield to terrorists’ foul threats,” Koizumi said. “There is no plan” to withdraw troops from Iraq, he said, adding the government would “do our utmost so that they (kidnap victims) will be released immediately.”

He was repeating the line taken by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda on Thursday after news of the kidnapping emerged.

In Washington, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld welcomed Japan’s immediate resolve to keep troops in Iraq.

“Clearly, that is a good, sound decision and it’s appreciated,” he said, as Australia also urged Japan not to bow to the demands from gunmen.

Analysts said Koizumi had no choice but to adopt a hardline stance.

“If Japan gives into threats, both extremists and international society will think Japan is soft on terrorism,” said Matake Kamiya, professor of security at the National Defence Academy. “Japan’s image as a nation state is at stake.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: Uncategorized


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • janicevanguilder on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West
  • Boycott Turkey on Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and UAE conduct joint military exercises amid rising Turkish threat
  • Yogi on EU Parliament members call for firing of border agency director for preventing illegal migrants from entering Europe
  • Hoi Polloi on Why so many Muslims can’t wait for Biden to get inaugurated
  • Hoi Polloi on EU Parliament members call for firing of border agency director for preventing illegal migrants from entering Europe

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.