Japan rejects Fischer's deportation appeal

Japan’s Justice Ministry today rejected former chess champion Bobby Fischer’s demand for protection as a political refugee, instead issuing an order to deport him.

Fischer is wanted in the United States for violating international sanctions against Yugoslavia in 1992, but a spokeswoman for the Justice Ministry, Yoshiko Miyazaki, would not say when Fischer would be deported or where he would be sent.

Fischer was detained by Japanese airport officials on July 13 for attempting to travel on an invalid US passport.

He appealed the deportation order and applied for asylum in Japan as a political refugee.