The Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace co-founder has been detained since July, with supporters worried a move to extradite him to Japan would see him live the rest of his life in prison.
He has been in prison since July, amid a push by Japan to extradite him on charges dating back more than a decade.abc.net.au/news/sea-shepherd-paul-watson-detention-extended-in-greenland/104509814A court has ordered anti-whaling activist and environmentalist Paul Watson to remain in detention in Greenland, as authorities consider a request from Japan to extradite him on charges dating back more than a decade.
The court in Greenland's capital Nuuk ordered his detention be extended for a fifth time on Wednesday, local time.was arrested in Greenland in July after arriving there to refuelThe prominent activist led high-profile confrontations against Japanese whaling ships as they slaughtered hundreds of whales each year for "scientific purposes" in the Antarctic Ocean. Japan issued a "red alert" notice with Interpol over an alleged clash between Japanese whaling vessels and Sea Shepherd in 2010.Sea Shepherd ships regularly pursued whaling vessels, sometimes resulting in clashes.A New Zealand citizen was convicted of assault over the incident, and given a suspended prison term, allowing him to leave Japan.Since 2019, Japan abandoned its scientific hunts and runs commercial whaling operations only in its own waters.On Wednesday, the court in Nuuk ordered Mr Watson to remain in detention until December 4, Greenland police said, with the next hearing set for December 2. Mr Watson's lawyer, Julie Stage, told the ABC an appeal had been launched against the decision in Greenland's Supreme Court. "We are disappointed, but I must say it doesn't come as a complete surprise to us given the previous hearings," Ms Stage said.Prosecutor Mariam Khalil said if the extradition wasn't approved, Mr Watson would be released "as soon as possible". The Danish justice ministry has not said when it will announce its decision on Japan's extradition request.Sea Shepherd France, which has supported Mr Watson throughout his time in custody, said the next court date coincided with his 74th birthday.Supporters of Mr Watson fear Japan is seeking revenge, and worry that an extradition there would mean living the rest of his life behind bars. Mr Watson left Sea Shepherd and established his own organisation in 2022, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation.Photo shows Paul Watson in captain's uniform stands on ice While Sea Shepherd's mutiny is dividing the conservation group, exiled captain Paul Watson is plotting a comeback. The director of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, Haans Siver, said Mr Watson's health had suffered since his arrest."He's 72 years old, and he's missing out on his children growing up and their birthdays and missing out on time with his wife. "They downsized his visitation rights and his phone rights, so it really has been hard on his mental health, for sure." Japan has a 99 per cent conviction rate and human rights groups accuse the judiciary of being little more than a rubber stamp for prosecutors. Ms Siver said Mr Watson believed the red notice had been lifted but accuses Japan of reimposing it secretly."I think this delay, delay, delay … it's almost a Julian Assange tactic, isn't it?"He has lived in France since 2023 with his two young children and wife.
Greenpeace Sea Shepherd Greenland Japan Whaling Extradition Court Appeal Red Notice Captain Paul Watson Foundation
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