Anti-Whaling Activist Paul Watson Faces Extended Detention Amid Extradition Talks
Anti-whaling activist, Paul Watson will remain in detention in Greenland as Danish authorities deliberate on his extradition to Japan.
The founder of the Sea Shepherd conservation group has been held since July 21, when he was detained by police upon docking in Nuuk. A local court has ruled that Watson will remain in custody until October 23, and he has filed an appeal against this decision.
Watson, 73, faces serious charges in Japan, including breaking into a Japanese vessel in the Antarctic Ocean in 2010, obstructing its operations, causing injuries, and damaging property. If extradited and convicted, he could face a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Watson has consistently denied all charges against him, asserting his innocence.
Meanwhile, his defense team claims that they have been barred from presenting critical documents in court but have received permission to escalate the case to the Danish Supreme Court. As his Defense lawyer Jonas Christoffersen expressed concern that the local court does not fully understand the nature of the charges against Watson, suggesting that his detention lacks proper legal foundation.
Furthermore, Watson’s legal representatives have also raised alarms about the fairness of Japan’s judicial system, arguing that he cannot expect a just trial there. They are advocating for Denmark to reject Japan’s extradition request, emphasizing the potential risks Watson faces in the Japanese legal system.
