More than 700 citizens and residents of Japan filed lawsuits [Kyodo News report] against the government Tuesday over new security laws that would allow the deployment of troops abroad to defend allies. The measure, backed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe [BBC profile], would allow for Japan to work with other international government entities in the fight against terrorism. Of concern for many plaintiffs is that the new laws could bring terrorism to the shores of Japan, destroying their traditional [Asahi Shinbun report] way of life. Furthermore some of the litigators are educators who believe that in order to teach the constitution to their pupils, they would have to include the security measures that are at odds with the principles in the document. The litigants are suing for compensation for the harm they have and will receive in the future.

The security law took effect last month after being approved [JURIST report] by the upper house of parliament in September. The legislation passed the lower house [Al Jazeera report] in July. The measure faced substantial opposition within Japan. Opponents of the law are upset that the law contradicts pacifist provisions in the constitution of Japan [text], specifically Article 9, which states: “the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.” Abe argues [NYT report] that the national military must take a more active role in order to strengthen its position against growing military power in China and a nuclear-armed North Korea. The government put limits on military deployments in the new law, but critics argue those limitations are extremely vague.