Amnesty attacks Ibuki's human rights remarks

Amnesty International Japan on Tuesday harshly attacked recent remarks by Bummei Ibuki, the education minister, in which he said too much respect for human rights would give Japan "human rights metabolic syndrome." In a letter sent to Ibuki, Amnesty demanded the minister retract the remarks, saying they "ignore the human rights of citizens."

Ibuki's remarks mean he has neglected his obligations and is trying to restrict people's human rights, Amnesty said. Comparing human rights to butter, Ibuki said Sunday, "No matter how nutritious it is, if one ate only butter every single day, one would get metabolic syndrome...Human rights are important, but if we respect them too much, Japanese society will end up having human rights metabolic syndrome." Amnesty also sent the same letter to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has downplayed criticism over Ibuki's remarks.