Official announcements or legal documents confirming a new extradition request by Japan.

Denmark Frees Paul Watson After 149 Days, Rejects Japan's Extradition Request

Dec 17, 2024, 01:00 PM

Paul Watson, the founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and a prominent anti-whaling activist, has been released from detention in Greenland after Denmark rejected a Japanese extradition request. Watson, a 74-year-old Canadian-American, was arrested in July in Nuuk, Greenland's capital, based on a Japanese warrant issued in 2012. The warrant stemmed from an incident in 2010 where Watson was accused of causing damage to a Japanese whaling ship and injuring a crew member. The Danish Ministry of Justice decided against extradition, citing the age of the case and uncertainties about whether Watson's time in detention would be considered in any potential sentence in Japan. Watson had been detained for 149 days under an Interpol red notice. An early member of Greenpeace, Watson gained fame through the reality TV show 'Whale Wars.' Following his release, Watson expressed relief and plans to return to his family in France for the holidays, where he holds honorary citizenship of Paris.