Copenhagen: Denmark released prominent anti-whaling activist Paul Watson on Tuesday, rejecting Japan’s request to extradite him over decade-old criminal charges. The 74-year-old founder of the Sea Shepherd conservation group and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation was detained in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, after his ship docked there in July.
“I’m certainly relieved, especially since it allows me to get home to my children before Christmas,” Watson told Reuters after his release. He added, “I haven’t seen my children since June. But the support here in Greenland has been incredible,” noting he received more than 4,000 letters of support, including some from Japan.
Denmark released anti-whaling activist Paul Watson from detention and said it had rejected a Japanese request to extradite him over criminal charges dating back more than a decade https://t.co/2Qxrnpkcy1 pic.twitter.com/uXdDGxnRKs
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 17, 2024
Denmark’s Decision
Denmark’s Justice Ministry based its decision on various factors, including the case’s age and uncertainty about whether time spent in Greenland’s detention could be deducted from any sentence in Japan.
“Based on correspondence with the Japanese authorities on this matter, the Ministry of Justice believes that it cannot be assumed with the necessary certainty that this will be the case,” Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard explained in a statement.
The Charges
Japan had issued an international arrest warrant for Watson, accusing him of breaking into a Japanese vessel in the Antarctic Ocean in 2010, obstructing its business, causing injuries, and property damage.
While Japan’s foreign ministry and its embassy in Copenhagen have declined to comment, Watson’s legal team welcomed the Danish decision. “We think it has taken a long time, but the most important thing is that it ends with the right decision,” said his lawyer, Julie Stage.
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Strong Support for Watson
Watson has received significant backing in France, where he has resided with his family since 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron and actress Brigitte Bardot were among those campaigning for his release.
Lamya Essemlali, head of Sea Shepherd France, who frequently visited Watson during his detention, expressed her surprise and relief. “When I got the news, I mean, I could hardly think, honestly. I just rushed into my clothes and rushed to the prison. I think I still don’t realize really that he’s out,” she said.
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A Long Battle
Watson’s release marks a significant moment in his decades-long fight against whaling. While his detention raised questions about international conservation efforts and legal systems, the Danish decision reflects a careful assessment of procedural uncertainties and human rights considerations.
