Testimony begins in Japan civil lawsuit alleging racial profiling by police [Video]

• A civil lawsuit alleging racial profiling by Japanese police began with testimony from plaintiffs on Monday.
• The lawsuit, filed by three residents of Japan, alleges that they were frequently stopped and questioned without valid reasons.
• The lawsuit targets the government and police, as well as the police of Tokyo and Aichi prefectures.

A civil lawsuit accusing Japanese police of racial profiling opened Monday with emotional testimony from plaintiffs who said they were constantly stopped and questioned without good reason.

The case, filed in January by three residents of Japan with overseas ancestry, including an American, claims their treatment constitutes discrimination and violates their human rights.

Japan does not have any anti-discrimination law, nor any laws or guidelines aimed at preventing racial profiling, but the government and the police deny they discriminate and say they are just doing their jobs. They have yet to outline the specifics of their arguments, expected …