Ex-captive Japanese journalist denied passport issuance for 5 months

Japanese journalist Jumpei Yasuda, who returned home last year after more than three years of captivity in Syria, has been denied issuance of a passport for five months after submitting an application to the Foreign Ministry.The 45-year-old freelance journalist told Kyodo News earlier this week he has been told by the ministry his application is still "under examination." Government officials have admitted to the situation."I'm effectively banned from traveling overseas, as a decision to issue my passport has not been made for some time," Yasuda said.Under the Constitution, for all Japanese…READ FULL ARTICLE