Recently, a video has been circulating online, purportedly showing Muslim Kurds causing chaos in Japan. In this article, we will explore the details and uncover the truth behind this viral claim.

Social Media Posts

On February 20, an X user shared the video in question, claiming that a video shows Muslim Kurds on a rampage in Japan.

Source | Archive

The video with the same claim is spreading on the X platform and also on Facebook.

Source | Archive

Source | Archive

Source | Archive

Fact-Check

To verify our findings, we used a reverse image search using keyframes from the video. This search directed us to a web-board post from a Japanese website, girlschannel.net, in 2015 (See the post here | Archived). The post contained screenshots from the same video and provided context about the event. The timestamps corresponded with the Turkish general election period, lending further credence to the fact that this incident occurred prior to the recent allegations.

The above post also included a news link. Although the link is currently inactive, we located the archived link to the news.

According to that news report, the video corresponds to an event from the Turkish general election, during which a conflict broke out outside the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo involving Kurds and Turks. International news outlets like Al Jazeera and the Huffington Post covered this event.

Here are the videos from this incident.

Source: TOKYO MX

Kurdish Community’s Current Situation in Japan

Kurdish community leader in Japan, Vakkas Colak, revealed that his group is under attack by Japanese extremists. Colak expressed surprise at the online attacks during last year's Turkish presidential election. The Japan Kurdish Cultural Association, representing the majority of Turkish-origin Kurds in Saitama, is striving against discrimination and hate speech. They also promote an understanding of Kurdish culture among the local Japanese population. Colak explained that despite the government's policy to welcome immigrants due to labour shortages, these extremist groups target them, spreading false accusations. The Kurdish community, active in cultural exchanges and social activities, maintains good relations with local communities. Colak urged the Turkish government to address these concerns with Japan, noting that larger immigrant communities are not targeted due to potential backlash from their respective governments. (Source: Arab News Japan)

Conclusion

The video currently circulating on social media does not depict recent protests by Muslim Kurds in Japan. Instead, it captures a historical event in 2015—a clash between Turks and Kurds during the Turkish general election. In summary, the claim is misleading.

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Title:The Truth Behind the Alleged Recent Rampage by Muslim Kurds in Japan

Fact Check By: Cielito Wang

Result: Misleading