Activist Paul Watson Remains in Greenland Jail Amid Extradition Fight

A Greenland court has ruled that anti-whaling activist Paul Watson will remain in custody until September 5, 2024, as authorities deliberate on Japan's extradition request. Watson, a 73-year-old American-Canadian, has been detained in Nuuk since his arrest in July. His legal team had appealed the court's decision, but the ruling was upheld to ensure his presence during the extradition proceedings. Watson, the founder of Sea Shepherd and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, is facing extradition to Japan for a 2010 incident involving a confrontation with Japanese whalers. The Japanese government claims that Watson caused damage to one of its whaling vessels and injured a crew member with a stink bomb intended to disrupt whaling activities. Japan has formally requested his extradition from Denmark, presenting a 2012 Interpol red notice as the basis for their case. During the court hearing, Japan sought to introduce video evidence from the 2010 incident, asserting that it would demonstrate the crew members were not on deck when the stink bomb was deployed. However, Lamya Essemlali, head of Sea Shepherd France, reported that the court declined to view this evidence, alleging that it was fabricated. She also criticized the lack of a translator for Watson during the proceedings, calling it a violation of Danish law and expressing outrage over the situation. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the ongoing tensions between anti-whaling activists and Japan's whaling practices, as well as raising questions about legal rights and due process in extradition cases.