“Every time it’s the same thing, we even wonder why they’re calling the hearing,” said the presidency of Sea Shepherd France.
The case has been going on for more than four months now. The courts decided and announced this Monday, December 2, to extend the continued detention of environmental activist Paul Watson until December 18 while waiting for the Danish government to decide on Japan's extradition request.
“The Greenland court today ruled that Paul Watson will be kept in custody until December 18, 2024 to ensure his presence during the extradition process”Danish police said in a statement, specifying that the environmental activist had appealed this decision.
“It’s the same thing every time”
“It’s ludicrous. It’s the same thing every time, we even wonder why they’re calling the hearing”the president of Sea Shepherd France, Lamya Essemlali, expressed indignation to theAFP. This is the sixth time since August that his detention has been extended by several weeks.
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The Danish Ministry of Justice told AFP that it would make its decision regarding extradition “Soon“. “The Danish Ministry of Justice is currently processing the extradition request […] and should soon make a decision in this matter”he wrote. According to the president of Sea Shepherd France, this decision should take place “by December 15.”
A decision by “December 15”
In late November, many defenders of the environmental activist urged Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard to refuse extradition. And, if that was the decision, “there would be no further grounds for detention and (Paul Watson) would be released”, explained the prosecutor in charge of the case.
The protector of whales, who celebrates his 74th birthday this Monday, December 2, was arrested in Nuuk (Greenland) on July 21. He was on his way with his ship the John Paul Dejoria to intercept a Japanese whaling factory ship in its fight to defend and protect the whales. However, Japan's extradition request dates back to 2010, for another whaling case described as “policy”by its defenders.
France
