Denmark Frees 74-Year-Old Paul Watson After 149 Days in Prison, Rejects Japan's Extradition Request

Dec 17, 2024, 01:06 PM

Paul Watson, a 74-year-old prominent anti-whaling activist and founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, has been released from detention in Greenland after serving 149 days in prison. Denmark rejected Japan's extradition request, which was based on an Interpol red notice and a Japanese arrest warrant related to a 2010 incident where Watson allegedly damaged a Japanese whaling ship and injured a crew member. The Danish Ministry of Justice decided against extradition, citing the age of the case and uncertainty about whether Watson's time in detention would be credited against any potential sentence in Japan. Following his release, Watson expressed relief and plans to return to his family in France before Christmas.