Japan asks Greenland to extradite anti-whaling activist Paul Watson

Japan has made a formal request for the extradition of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, who was arrested in Greenland last month, the Danish Justice Ministry reported Thursday (August 1). Once the documents are received, the case will be forwarded to the police in Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, which will begin investigations to determine whether there are grounds for extradition. If so, the case will be submitted to the Justice Ministry for a final decision.

Paul Watson, 73, was arrested on July 21 in Greenland and detained until August 15, subject to an international arrest warrant issued by Japan. He was apprehended on his ship, which had just docked in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, to refuel for a“intercept” Japan’s new whaling factory ship in the North Pacific, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation said in a statement. “Paul is doing well, he is keeping his spirits up. He has no regrets.”reported Tuesday the president of the French branch of the NGO Sea Shepherd, Lamya Essemlali, after visiting him in detention.