Prominent anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has applied for asylum in France to avoid extradition to Japan on an arrest warrant filed 10 years ago.
The environmentalist Captain Paul Watson Foundation on Wednesday appealed to French President Emmanuel Macron for political asylum. According to to Reuters.
Watson was arrested in Greenland in July and could face 15 years in prison if extradited to Japan, the paper said, adding that in 2010 he was charged with breaking into a Japanese ship and disrupting its operations, resulting in bodily injury and property damage. He has been charged with causing the (Related: Police arrest reality TV star who boarded boat while refueling)
free…..#freepaulwatson pic.twitter.com/RRnbxMrYsg
— Captain Paul Watson Foundation 🐋🏴☠️ (@CaptPaulWatson) October 7, 2024
Watson was arrested in July after his ship stopped to refuel in Nuuk, Greenland, the newspaper said. Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Earlier this month, a Greenlandic court extended Watson's detention until October 23, pending a decision by the Danish Ministry of Justice on his extradition.
🌊 💙 A huge thank you to the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall for her powerful message of support for Captain Paul Watson. For over 50 years, Paul has dedicated his life to protecting our oceans and protecting whales, but what is his reward? Threat of arrest and life imprisonment… pic.twitter.com/88Bps72yFQ
— Captain Paul Watson Foundation 🐋🏴☠️ (@CaptPaulWatson) October 15, 2024
There was no immediate comment from Macron's office on Wednesday, but the French president has previously expressed support for Watson's environmental work. According to To the Associated Press.
Critics of the activist's arrest in Greenland say it was due to his longstanding opposition to Japan's whaling, which was banned under an international treaty in 1986. According to the newspaper, Japan defends commercial whaling as part of its cultural heritage.
Watson is best known for the reality show “Whale Wars,'' which featured environmental activists sabotaging Japanese whaling expeditions.
