Politicians Call for Release of Activist Paul Watson

In a significant political move, 73 politicians from ten countries have urged Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to release environmental activist Paul Watson, who was detained in Greenland on July 21. Watson faces potential extradition to Japan, where an international arrest warrant has been outstanding since 2010. The letter's signatories include members of the European Parliament and national politicians from various European nations, highlighting a growing concern over the treatment of environmental activists globally. French MEP Emma Forreau, one of the letter's authors, emphasized that Watson's case reflects a troubling trend of repression against environmental advocates. She argues that Watson's detention is unjust, particularly given Japan's controversial whaling practices, which she claims violate international conventions. Watson's arrest stems from an incident in Antarctica where he allegedly intervened against Japanese whalers, leading to accusations of assault from Japanese authorities. Currently, Watson remains in custody in Greenland, with a court hearing scheduled for August 15 to determine his extradition fate. The Danish Ministry of Justice has confirmed receipt of Japan's formal extradition request and is reviewing the necessary documentation before proceeding with the case. The ministry indicated that it would forward the request to Greenland's police unless there are grounds to reject it. Watson, a co-founder of Greenpeace and founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has a history of confrontations with whalers. His recent arrest has raised questions about the motivations behind Japan's renewed efforts to extradite him, particularly in light of the launch of a new whaling vessel equipped for extensive hunting operations.