Denmark has decided not to extradite the environmental activist to Japan, who will be released after five months of detention in Greenland

Denmark decided on Tuesday, December 17, not to extradite environmental activist Paul Watson to Japan, who will be released, one of its lawyers, Julie Stage, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). Mr. Watson was arrested on July 21 during a brief stopover in Greenland to refuel his boat, the John-Paul-DeJoria.

“He is free. The Ministry of Justice has just informed us that it has rejected the extradition request” emphasized M^e Stage, specifying that Mr. Watson would be able to leave Nuuk prison in Greenland, where he had been in pre-trial detention for almost five months.

Denmark based its refusal on “the total duration of the detention of Paul Franklin Watson following his arrest, on July 21, 2024, and until a possible extradition order can be executed, and on [le] fact that the acts for which extradition is requested date back more than fourteen years, as well as [sur] the nature of [ces] acts »according to the court decision consulted by AFP.

“I think the Danes were convinced that extradition to Japan was not justified and would have exposed him to disproportionate risk”commented another of his lawyers, François Zimeray, on BFM-TV, salute a decision « sage » although intervening “a little too late”. “Paul is free!!! »rejoiced the Sea Shepherd organization, which he founded.

An international arrest warrant was issued for Paul Watson at the request of Japan twelve years ago, due to anti-whaling activities in Antarctica that allegedly caused damage and injuries in 2010.