STORY: PAUL WATSON: “Well, I’m certainly relieved…”
Denmark freed anti-whaling activist Paul Watson from detention in Greenland on Tuesday…
And said it had rejected a request from Japan to extradite him over criminal charges dating back more than a decade.
WATSON: “The only hard part was being, I haven’t seen my children since June but the support here in Greenland has been incredible.”
Watson is the founder of the Sea Shepherd conservationist group and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation.
:: Captain Paul Watson Foundation
He was apprehended in July when his ship docked in Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory.
Japan had issued an international warrant for his arrest…
Seeking him on charges of breaking into a Japanese vessel in the Antarctic Ocean in 2010, obstructing its business and causing injury as well as property damage.
Denmark’s justice ministry said it factored in the age of the case…
And in particular an uncertainty over whether Watson’s time in detention in Greenland would be deducted from any final sentence in Japan.
The 74-year-old was released in Greenland’s capital Nuuk, according to police there.
“You know I’ve received over 4,000 letters while I’ve been in prison has been really overwhelming.” // “I’ve even gotten dozens of letters from Japan which have been very supportive.”
:: Copenhagen, Denmark
:: File
A spokesperson for Japan’s embassy in Copenhagen declined to comment.
Japan’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for one.
Watson has had strong support in France, where he has lived with his family since 2023.
French President Emmanuel Macron and actor Brigitte Bardot threw their support behind a campaign for his release.
Watson says the focus now is reconnecting with family.
“Well the first thing is to go home and you know spend some time with my children. After that we will carry on doing what we’re doing.”
