wo viral videos circulating on social media show U.S. military police detaining former Marine captain Kareem Farrakhan El outside a bar in Okinawa, Japan. The footage has sparked debate and prompted an official investigation by the United States Forces Japan (USFJ).
According to Stripes, the incident occurred on November 23 outside Star Bar, located near Kadena Air Base in Okinawa City. The videos, shared by El’s brother on Facebook, show the confrontation escalating as officers forcibly detained him.
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Former Marine Slammed to the Ground by Military Police
In the first viral clip, an officer can be seen lifting El and slamming him onto the ground in front of the bar as bystanders look on. Two security force officers then attempted to handcuff him, while El repeatedly stated that the officers had “no right to arrest him.”
A second video shows a calmer exchange taking place shortly after, with El standing in a parking lot near Gate 2 of Kadena Air Base, continuing to question the officers’ authority.
El asked the officers,
“You can detain a random Japanese citizen for not showing you their ID?”
One of the military police officers replied that they could and that Japanese citizens could be brought to local police for identification.
Background: U.S. Military Patrols in Okinawa Under Scrutiny
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between U.S. military forces and local residents in Okinawa. Since April 2024, U.S. military police have been conducting joint patrols with the Okinawa Prefectural Police during weekends to monitor nightlife in the area.
These patrols were expanded under a directive issued in December 2023, following a series of sexual assault allegations involving service members stationed in Japan — two of which resulted in convictions.
The policy also restricts U.S. personnel from drinking between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., part of broader efforts to improve discipline among troops.
El Was Visiting Okinawa for Business Launch
Reports say Kareem Farrakhan El was in Okinawa to launch a tech application when the incident occurred. El, a former U.S. Marine captain, was not an active-duty service member at the time of his detention.
El’s brother, who owns a Washington, D.C.-based food truck business called Garlic Sensations, shared the videos online, where they quickly went viral and sparked public outrage over the officers’ handling of the situation.
U.S. military police have criminal jurisdiction only over members of the armed forces in Japan, not over Japanese nationals or civilian visitors. This distinction has fueled further debate about whether the officers overstepped their authority during the encounter.
USFJ Commander Launches Investigation and Suspends Patrols
In response to the viral videos, USFJ Commander Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost announced that an investigation has been launched into the incident. Jost also ordered an immediate pause of joint patrol operations in Okinawa and directed that security force officers undergo retraining on proper conduct and jurisdictional limits.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether disciplinary actions will be taken against the officers involved.
