Environmental activist Paul Watson, detained in Greenland and under extradition request from Japan for acts dating back to 2010, requested “political asylum” to France in a letter to the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, Sea Shepherd France announced on Wednesday October 16. This request was made a few days ago, declared during a press conference in Paris, Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France, which supports the 73-year-old environmental activist.
The question “is not decided today”declared government spokesperson Maud Bregeon on Thursday on Sud Radio, specifying that she herself had “a deep respect and a lot of admiration for the cause that [Paul Watson] within reach ».
Japan issued an international arrest warrant for him accusing the activist of breaking into a Japanese whaling ship in the Antarctic Ocean in 2010, causing bodily harm to the crew and property damage.
The founder of Sea Shepherd, and of the foundation for the oceans which bears his name, was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, capital of the autonomous Danish territory, during a stopover in the port to refuel, while ‘he was on his way with his ship, the John-Paul-DeJoria-II, to intercept a new Japanese whaler.
Several political figures supported Paul Watson’s request. The socialist Olivier Faure described” honor “ the fact that he is requesting political asylum, adding that“Emmanuel Macron [devait] accept it ».
“Yes, France must give political asylum to Paul Watson, whose only crime is to mobilize to defend the living”reacted the coordinator of the “rebels”, Manuel Bompard.
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