The oldest daughter of the Kurdish family of seven seeking asylum in Japan

The status allows the family members of Kazankiran's to stay in Japan until Feb. 24, after the father of the family and a son were deported to Turkey on Jan. 18, according to the bureau.

Ahmet, 49, and his son, Ramazan, 21, were detained Jan. 17 when they went to Tokyo immigration facilities to renew their provisional release status and were deported the next day.

However, Justice Minister Chieko Nono said Jan. 25 that Japan may deport Kazankirans to a third country after discussing the matter with the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

"It is natural we consider their departure," said Nono.

Kazankirans were recognized by the UNHCR as refugees. The father and son were the first such U.N.-recognized refugees in Japan to be deported.

The Japan Times Weekly: Jan. 29, 2005
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