Brigitte Bardot expresses her joy after the release of Paul Watson

A reaction that is not long in coming. Just a few hours after the announcement of Paul Watson’s release, Brigitte Bardot expressed her joy and relief in a letter shared by BFMTV on Tuesday December 17. “ The release of Paul Watson is the Christmas miracle !“, she wrote on a handwritten note, accompanied by a drawn flower. “ Thank you God! », simply added the actress.

The animal rights activist, who created her animal protection foundation in 1986, called last October in a message published on X for the release of Paul Watson. The star of And God… created woman had notably challenged the President of the Republic, asking him to grant political asylum to the environmental activist and to demonstrate “a little courage ». A demonstration in support of Paul Watson was also organized in front of the Hôtel de Ville in Paris the day after this publication.

Released after five months in prison

The founder of the NGO Sea Shepherd had been detained in Greenland by the Danish authorities since July 21, accused by Japan of having ordered the boarding of one of its whalers, which Paul Watson denies. According to the Japanese prosecution, injuries were inflicted on a sailor from the whaling ship Shonan Maru II, during a confrontation with Sea Shepherd, February 11, 2010. While his detention in Denmark has been extended six times, the Danish government has just refused the activist’s extradition request to Japan. He can now return to France. « My arrest drew international attention to Japan’s continued illegal whaling operations »the activist rejoiced in a video interview with AFP. He also says he feels « very fit » for his « first day of freedom in five months ».

Many personalities from the world of French-speaking culture as well as international ones had given their support. « It’s a scandal, I would even say that it’s an infamy », Pierre Richard reacted. Pierre Niney, Pierce Brosnan, Florent Pagny and even Véronique Sanson had also taken a stand.