Japan Requests Denmark To Extradite Anti-Whaling Activist Paul Watson

Japan has formally demanded the extradition of Paul Watson, a well-known US-Canadian anti-whaling activist from Denmark.

Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, was arrested in Greenland on July 21, 2024. The request comes in response to allegations related to a 2010 confrontation with Japanese whaling ships in the Antarctic Ocean.

Watson, 73, is accused of breaking into a Japanese vessel, obstructing its operations, and causing both injury and property damage.

The Danish Ministry of Justice stated that it received Japan’s extradition request on July 31, 2024, and will consider it under the extradition laws that apply to Greenland. If the ministry agrees to proceed, Greenland police will investigate the case before making a final decision.

Francois Zimeray, the activist’s French lawyer, expressed concerns over the unbiased nature of Japan’s judicial system.

Zimeray says Denmark should decline the extradition request, citing concerns about an unfair prosecution and human rights violations in Japan. The Japanese embassy in Copenhagen stated that it will continue to address inquiries about extradition responsibly.

According to anonymous Japanese government sources, Denmark is considering approving the extradition. However, the final decision lies with Denmark’s justice ministry.

Watson’s custody hearing is planned in Greenland on August 15, 2024.

Watson was arrested when his ship, the John Paul DeJoria, arrived at Nuuk, Greenland.

The ship was en route to intercept a new Japanese whaling factory ship in the North Pacific. Watson is well-known for his direct action tactics against whaling, which were featured in the reality television show “Whale Wars.”

Watson’s lawyers and supporters believe that extradition to Japan would violate the European Convention on Human Rights. They claim that Japan’s prison conditions could be life-threatening for Watson, who has Type 1 diabetes. His wife, Yana Watson, has publicly appealed to Denmark’s royal family for his release, citing his serious health issues.

In addition, a French petition urging President Emmanuel Macron to act has received more than 675,000 signatures.

Jane Goodall, a renowned primatologist and environmentalist, has also urged for Watson’s release, citing his actions as a fight against the inhumane practice of whaling, which several countries have banned.

Watson has been charged with serious allegations in Japan, including causing injury, which could result in up to 15 years in prison, and forcible obstruction of trade, which may result in up to three years in prison.

The issue continues to receive international attention while Denmark reviews the extradition request.

Reference: Reuters, France24

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