Paul Watson released by Danish justice

Paul Watson, who faced prison in Japan, will not be extradited by Denmark. – © NnoMan Cadoret / Reporterre

Paul Watson, who faced prison in Japan, will not be extradited by Denmark. – © NnoMan Cadoret / Reporterre

December 17, 2024 at 2:17 p.m.

Updated December 17, 2024 at 3:26 p.m.

Reading time: 2 minutes

Imprisoned in Greenland for five months, the founder ofONG Sea Shepherd, Paul Watson, has been released by Danish justice. He was threatened with extradition to Japan for his actions against whaling ships.

Expected for many months, the news fell on Tuesday, December 17: after 149 days of detention, Paul Watson is finally free, announced Sea Shepherd on X. The Danish government has decided and refuses his extradition to Japan. The founder of theONG of ocean defense will be able to return to France, where his family is based.

Paul Watson was arrested on July 21 in Greenland – territory attached to Denmark – following an Interpol red notice issued in 2012. At the time, the Sea Shepherd crew was leading an operation in Antarctica to fight Japanese ships which continue whale hunting, despite the moratorium of the International Whaling Commission, which has banned the cetacean trade since 1986.

Four appeals rejected before release

To interrupt this activity, the crew of the founder of Sea Shepherd resorted to « non-violence agressive »which advocates directly harassing poachers without resorting to physical violence. Concretely, in 2010, the crew played classical music at full volume, sent ropes under the propellers of the harpoon ships and threw red paint as well as stink balls made from butyric acid, a harmless component. However, for the Japanese authorities, these caused burns to the face of a fisherman. Defamatory accusations, according to Paul Watson and his defense, who declare that the sailors injured themselves of their own volition.

« The procedure took longer than expected and hoped »

Since his incarceration at Nuuk prison in Greenland, the whale defender has seen his detention extended six times and four appeals rejected. The 74-year-old man risked ending his days in prison thousands of kilometers from his family, who had been living in France for about a year. « The proceedings took longer than expected and hoped, given the public interest in the case »reveals to Libération the office of the Danish Minister of Justice, Peter Hummelgaard.

If Agnès Pannier-Runacher, resigning Minister of Ecological Transition, « welcomes the release of Paul Watson »and he « wishes a safe return among his family »this speech is contradictory with the policy pursued by the government on its own maritime territory. Indeed, the MEP (La France insoumise) Emma Fourreau, declared in September to Reporterre what « the government’s posture is completely inconsistent with reality. It’s bluewashing [greenwashing appliqué aux mers et aux océans] ».