Greenland activist Paul Watson’s detention extended by 28 days

The detention of whale defender Paul Watson in Greenland (an autonomous territory of Denmark) has been extended by twenty-eight days, the NGO Sea Shepherd France, which supports him, announced on Wednesday, September 4. The environmental activist’s lawyers have appealed and a hearing has been set for October 2, said the president of the NGO, Lamya Essemlali.

“The fact that the judge has again refused to see our evidence is a violation of Paul Watson’s rights and a demonstration that this case has nothing to do with justice.”reacted Lamya Essemlali.

The evidence mentioned by the president of Sea Shepherd France are videos showing the actions of the NGO and in which the collision between the Japanese whaling ship and a ship of the association is visible. She also has a recording in which Paul Bethune, the Australian activist who accosted the whaling ship, declares that he did not act under orders from Paul Watson. So many documents which, according to Sea Shepherd, were not included in the file while they undermine the version of the Japanese authorities.

Founder of Sea Shepherd and the ocean foundation that bears his name, Paul Watson was arrested on July 21 in the capital of the autonomous Danish territory, while he was en route with his ship, the John Paul DeJoria, to intercept a new Japanese whaling factory ship.

Japan is seeking his extradition, having revived a request issued in 2012 via an Interpol red notice. It accuses him of being jointly responsible for damage and injuries on board a Japanese whaling ship two years earlier as part of a campaign led by Sea Shepherd.