Greenland court orders Paul Watson to remain in custody until September 5

A Greenland court has ordered that Paul Watson, the prominent environmental activist and anti-whaling campaigner, remain in custody as authorities deliberate on Japan's extradition request. The ruling mandates Watson's detention until September 5, 2024, to ensure his availability for extradition proceedings. Watson, 73, has appealed this decision to Greenland's High Court, according to a police statement. Watson, a Canadian-American and former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, was arrested last month in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, under an international warrant issued by Japan. The Japanese government is seeking his extradition to face charges related to a 2010 incident involving a Japanese whaling research ship, where he allegedly obstructed the crew's duties by ordering the use of explosives against them. Japan maintains that whaling is a cultural practice and has resumed commercial whaling after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission in 2019. During the court proceedings, Japan sought to present video evidence from the 2010 incident, claiming it would demonstrate the Japanese crew was not on deck when the explosives were deployed. However, the court declined to view this evidence, leading to accusations from Watson's supporters that Japan fabricated its case. Additionally, concerns were raised about Watson not being provided a translator during the hearing, which his supporters argue violates Danish law. Watson, who has been a controversial figure in the environmental movement, founded the Captain Paul Watson Foundation after leaving Sea Shepherd in 2022. His detention has sparked discussions about Japan's whaling practices and the implications of international extradition laws.