On January 11, 2008, Japan's parliament passed anti-terror legislation following approval of the Japanese cabinet. The law was a limited renewal of the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law passed in 2007 and granted an extension to Japanese refueling missions but prohibited Japanese support of US and other allied ships engaged in military, rescue, or humanitarian operations in Afghanistan. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigned amid controversy surrounding the law's original passage in September 2007, fueled by opposition critics who claimed that the refueling missions violated Japan's pacifist constitution.

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Learn more about Japan and the laws governing terrorism from the JURIST news archive.

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