Photographer Slams Government Passport Confiscation To Stop Trip To Syria

TOKYO, JAPAN - FEB. 12: A Japanese freelance photojournalist criticized the government on Thursday for having confiscated his passport to prevent him from travelling to Syria, indicating he may take his case to court. Yuichi Sugimoto, 58, said he fears the latest case would set a "bad precedent" for fellow photographers and journalists, and the freedom of the press and his freedom to travel should be respected. "Losing my passport means losing my job, and that my life is being denied. I'm extremely surprised and shocked," Sugimoto, a resident of Niigata Prefecture, told a press conference in Tokyo. "I will definitely get my passport back. I'm worried that my case will set a bad precedent and other people in the press will be ordered to return their passports and deprived of the freedom of the press and newsgathering," Sugimoto added. "I will fight to the very end." The photographer said he plans to lodge a protest with the foreign minister under the administrative appeal law soon, and consider taking "legal action."