Environmental activist and whale defender Paul Watson has been released from prison following Denmark’s decision not to extradite him to Japan, Greenland police said on Tuesday.
“The Greenland police today informed Paul Watson and his lawyer about the decision of the Ministry of Justice in the extradition case. Paul Watson was subsequently released,” the police wrote in a statement.
“He is free, the Ministry of Justice has just informed us that it has rejected the extradition request,” his lawyer said.
Allegations by the Japanese authorities
The 74-year-old American-Canadian was arrested in Nuuk on July 21 following the revival of a request issued by Japan in 2012 through an Interpol red notice. He was then on his way with his ship the John Paul DeJoria to intercept a new Japanese whaling factory ship.
Japanese authorities accused him of being responsible for damage and injuries on board a Japanese whaling ship in 2010 as part of a campaign led by Sea Shepherd.
Acts dating back more than 14 years
Denmark based its refusal on “the full duration of the detention of Paul Franklin Watson after his arrest on July 21, 2024 and until a decision can be made on extradition, and on (the) fact that the acts for which extradition is requested in respect of him. going back more than 14 years, as well as the nature of the actions in general,” according to the Danish decision.
“Japan tried a man whose only crime is to deny the illegality of the industrial crowd disguised as scientific research,” replied another of its lawyers.
Paul Watson “will be able to resume his activism for respect for nature, which is also a fight for humanity and justice,” he said. “We are proud to lead this legal and political fight alongside his family.”
>> Details in the Forum:
Whale defender Paul Watson released in Greenland / Forum / 2 min. / yesterday at 6:00 p.m.
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