Paul Watson faces extradition threat after prolonged detention in Greenland
- Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd, has been imprisoned in Nuuk, Greenland for over five months.
- He faces potential extradition to Japan for charges related to anti-whaling operations, risking a 15-year prison sentence.
- Denmark's decision on his extradition has been delayed due to pressure from both Japan and France, highlighting the complex international and local implications.
In Greenland, Paul Watson, aged 73, has been held in pre-trial detention for over five months following his arrest on July 21, 2024. He was taken into custody in Nuuk, where his vessel, the John-Paul-DeJoria, was docked for refueling before departing for a new anti-whaling mission. Watson faces serious charges in Japan, including causing 'damage and injury' during an operation against a Japanese whaler in Antarctic waters in 2010. The international warrant for his arrest was issued in 2012, and he could potentially face up to 15 years in prison if extradited to Japan. Denmark's response to Japan's extradition request has been notably slow, creating a situation of uncertainty for Watson and his family. The Danish Minister of Justice, Peter Hummelgaard, has not set a timeline for a decision, and this ambiguity has raised concerns among environmental NGOs and the public. Simultaneously, pressure is mounting from France, where Watson's family resides and where he hopes to seek political asylum. President Emmanuel Macron has expressed his concern, emphasizing the need for Denmark to act quickly to resolve the situation. The concerns over the extradition are further complicated by local sentiments in Denmark's autonomous regions, such as the Faroe Islands, which practice whale hunting and do not favor Watson’s activities with Sea Shepherd. This ongoing conflict of interests has contributed to the delays in decision-making from the Danish authorities. His lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, argues that the length of Watson’s detention exceeds what is legally permissible in Denmark, where a decision on extradition should ideally be made within a few months. Watson is scheduled to appear before a Greenlandic court on December 2, 2024, marking the sixth hearing concerning his custody. The legal framework governing the extradition process necessitates a thorough examination of the charges against him. While his defense team is pushing for his release, the intricacies of international law and extradition procedures have prolonged his detention. As the situation evolves, both his family and supporters await clarity from Danish authorities regarding his future and the possibility of returning to his family in France.