The Norman MEP, elected in June 2024, is traveling to Iceland and Greenland (Denmark). The 25-year-old elected official visited the Canadian activist, detained in Nuuk, and threatened with extradition to Japan.
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“We will not give up until he is released!” These are the words posted this Sunday, November 3, by Emma Fourreau on her X account. The MEP, member of the left group in the European Parliament (The Left), publishes a video where she expresses her support for the Canadian activist Paul Watson.
The 73-year-old activist was arrested on July 21 for facts related to his fight against whaling. In France, this practice has been prohibited since 1986, with the application of the moratorium of the International Whaling Commission. Japan, Norway and Iceland have freed themselves from it, in the name of tradition.
A custom that Emma Fourreau denounces by visiting Paul Watson in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, during his mission for the European Parliament.
Detained for 106 days, the environmentalist and founder of the NGO Sea Shepherd is under threat of extradition to Japan. Despite his calls for help, his incarceration continues.
In fact, in mid-October, Paul Watson requested political asylum from Emmanuel Macron. His request initially went unanswered. But Friday October 25, the Minister of Foreign Affairs declared on franceinfo that this was an option under examination.
Jean-Noël Barrot added that he was “rather favorable” has “this possibility” naturalization, while emphasizing that he did not want “preempt a decision that does not depend on [son] ministry or not only of [son] ministry.”
An insufficient reaction for the MEP, originally from Evrecy (Calvados), who spoke in the columns of the newspaper West France“France must really get involved in this issue.”
According to information collected by our colleagues, Emma Fourreau and her team also wrote to the Danish authorities and the European Commission. But the detention of the activist is “renewed every time”according to the woman who is also a member of the environment commission and the fisheries commission.
For several weeks, the environmental activist has received numerous letters from French citizens convinced by the cause. The Minister of Foreign Affairs also spoke about his commitment.
Paul Watson defends a cause which is just and which is noble and I share it, France also shares it since on the protection of the oceans, we are on the front line.
Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Foreign Affairsat franceinfo
Several petitions are also open to obtain his release.
While awaiting action from European authorities, Paul Watson published a letter on Wednesday October 30 via Sea Shepherd's social networks.
For Emma Fourreau, it is only a matter of a political and not a judicial matter. La Normande hopes that her action will allow Paul Watson to be released.
