Political asylum of Paul Watson: the government’s position is “not clear-cut”
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon assured Thursday that the question of granting political asylum to Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson is “not decided today.”
The environmental activist, imprisoned in Greenland, requested political asylum from France on Wednesday in a letter sent to Emmanuel Macron. “It is not decided today”, indicated Maud Bregeon at the microphone of Sud Radio, specifying that she herself had “a deep respect and a lot of admiration for the cause which he carried”.
Under an extradition request from Japan, Paul Watson has been detained for three months in Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory. In his letter to the French president, published by Sea Shepherd France on social networks, the 73-year-old ecologist, based in France, claims that Japan is “persecuting” him for a “political and not judicial” reason.
He is accused by Tokyo of being co-responsible for damage and injuries aboard a Japanese whaling ship as part of a campaign led by Sea Shepherd in 2010.
Several political figures supported Paul Watson’s request. The socialist Olivier Faure described it as an “honor” that Paul Watson requested political asylum, adding that “Emmanuel Macron (should) accept it.”
“Yes, France must give political asylum to Paul Watson whose only crime is to mobilize to defend the living,” also reacted Manuel Bompard, coordinator of the Insoumis.
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