Shinzo Abe funeral: Shinzo Abe will be cremated with state honours, the cabinet has decided

Japan's cabinet decided to perform the last rites of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with state honors on September 27. There has been a debate on this matter at the national level. Some critics have called it an attempt to glorify a divisive political figure. Shinzo Abe was shot and killed earlier this month during an election campaign in the western Japanese city of Nara. This incident surprised everyone. The alleged attacker was arrested soon after the incident and is being questioned.

Hirokazu Matsuno said this

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Abe's "outstanding contributions" to Japan's longest-serving prime minister were "unmatched leadership and decisive action" in various areas, including promoting economic reform and diplomacy and the 2011 tsunami. After seeing his efforts in bringing the situation back on track, it is appropriate that he should be cremated with state honors.

Shinzo Abe cremated with state honors

Matsuno said the funeral would be held with state honors at Nippon Budokan, a non-religious event. There are mixed reactions from the opposition leaders and common people regarding the decision of the cabinet. Some have opposed organizing such an event using tax-earned money, while others have accused the ruling party of glorifying Abe and politicizing his death.

Protest against the decision of the cabinet outside the Prime Minister's Office

Critics of Shinzo Abe consider him a very divisive leader. On Thursday, a civic group protested the cabinet's decision, urging the Tokyo District Court to stay the decision on state funerals. The group said a government-sponsored funeral without Parliament's approval violates the constitutional right to freedom of faith. Dozens of protesters demonstrated outside the Prime Minister's Office on Friday against the cabinet's decision.

Demand for cancellation of cabinet decision

Leader of the Opposition Mizuho Fukushima said the decision was neither taken by consensus nor has any legal basis. He demanded the cancellation of this decision. Abe's private funeral was held at a temple in Tokyo, attended by about 1,000 people, including his family members, his political allies, business leaders.