Greenland extends detention of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson October 23, 2024

Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, founder of the Oregon-based Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, is sworn in before testifying at a contempt hearing in federal court on November 6, 2013, in Seattle. (Karen Ducey/Pool Photo via AP, File)

By AFP - Agence France Presse

Greenland extends detention of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson

Paul Watson was arrested in Nuuk in July 2024 based on a 2012 Japanese arrest warrant accusing him of damaging a whaling ship in Antarctica in 2010 and injuring a whaler.

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK -- A Greenland court on Wednesday once again decided to extend the custody of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson until Nov. 13 while Denmark considers an extradition request from Japan.

It is unclear when Denmark will decide whether or not to send him to Japan, which does not have an extradition treaty with the Scandinavian country.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and deals with police and judicial matters.

Japan's coastguard requested his arrest over an encounter with a Japanese whaling research vessel in 2010. He was accused of obstructing the official duties of the crew by ordering the captain of his ship to throw explosives at the whaling ship.

Prosecutor Mariam Khalil said there was still a risk of flight and that an extension of custody was needed, Greenland's Sermitsiaq newspaper reported.

A lawyer for Watson's defense team, Finn Meinel, told The Associated Press from Nuuk that “of course, it's disappointing that someone is being held for so long.”

Last week, Sea Shepherd France said Watson had requested political asylum from the president of France. Sea Shepherd France said that a letter from Watson had been delivered to President Emmanuel Macron, who had previously expressed his support for Watson and emphasized the importance of the case for the defense of the environment and human rights.

Whale meat is an element of Japanese food culture, and the Japanese government claims to support the sustainable use of whales.

Watson, who left Sea Shepherd in 2022, was also a leading member of Greenpeace but left in 1977 amid disagreements over its aggressive tactics and created the more action-oriented organization. The group has campaigned aggressively to protect whales, dolphins, and other marine animals.

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