According to major media reports, the Japanese government scrapped a ban on exports of lethal weapons, challenging the nation's postwar pacifism. An estimated 36,000 people protested in front of Japan's National Diet on Sunday, calling for an end to the Iran war and to keep the pacifist constitution intact. Protests in Japan have grown from 3,600 in late February to 24,000 in late March, culminating in 36,000 on the weekend.
In South Africa, hundreds of people protested in Johannesburg against illegal immigration, calling for strict enforcement and mass deportations. The protests resulted in the closure of many shops due to fears of looting. According to major media reports, South Africa deported 109,344 immigrants living illegally over the past two financial years.
In Sweden, thousands demonstrated in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö against what they see as increasingly repressive immigration laws. The Swedish government, with support from the Sweden Democrats, defends the strict policies as necessary for a sustainable system. The Swedish parliament recently rejected a motion to stop so-called teenage deportations, sparking criticism.
About 100 protesters gathered at a demonstration, as reported by Nya Wermlands-Tidningen. According to Nerikes Allehanda, an organizer stated that 300 people have shown interest in a protest, calling the response 'completely insufficient'. A headline in Göteborgs-Posten states 'The dissatisfaction is greater than the government thinks'.
The demonstrations in Sweden reflect growing public discontent with the government's hardline stance on immigration. In Japan, the lifting of the weapons export ban has drawn international attention, with critics arguing it undermines the country's pacifist principles. Meanwhile, South African authorities continue to face pressure to address illegal immigration, with recent protests highlighting the deep divisions within the country.
The global wave of protests underscores the contentious nature of immigration and defense policies in different regions.