Denmark Japan demands extradition of whale conservationist Watson

Whaling nation Japan has called on Denmark to extradite animal rights activist Paul Watson, who was arrested in Greenland. The Japanese authorities have submitted a formal extradition request to the Danish Ministry of Justice, as the ministry confirmed to the German Press Agency in Copenhagen.

The ministry is now waiting for the documents in verified form before passing the case on to the Greenland police.

Watson has been campaigning for the welfare of whales and other marine animals for decades and has clashed with various whaling nations, among others. Because of his confrontational approach to protecting animals, the Canadian-American citizen is also controversial among environmentalists - some see him as a hero, others as a radical.

Around a week and a half ago, he was arrested in the Greenlandic capital Nuuk after calling at the port there with the ship "John Paul DeJoria". According to the Greenlandic police, the reason for the arrest was an international arrest warrant issued by Japan for Watson.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the Greenlandic police will investigate whether the conditions for extradition under Greenlandic law have been met after the case has been forwarded. The decision on extradition to Japan will then ultimately rest with the Ministry in Copenhagen. Greenland is largely autonomous, but is officially part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Watson was once one of the first members of Greenpeace and later founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The German branch of his current organization, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, has written to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Environment Minister Steffi Lemke and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock asking them to speak out publicly for Watson's release and against his extradition to Japan. The organization wrote that he could face up to 15 years in prison there.

According to media reports, personalities such as French President Emmanuel Macron, French actress Brigitte Bardot and British behavioral scientist Jane Goodall have already spoken out in support of Watson. A decision on extradition is expected in mid-August.

SDA