A court in Greenland ruled Wednesday that anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson must remain in detention until Oct. 23 while Denmark’s Justice Ministry decides whether to approve his extradition to Japan.
It was unclear when Denmark will decide whether to send him to Japan, where he is accused of obstructing a whaling research ship's work with violence in 2010. He could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted in Japan.
“They have deliberately thrown such objects so it is to harm people,” prosecutor Mariam Khalil said in court, according to the Greenland newspaper Sermitsiaq, referring to potassic acid thrown at the Japanese vessel by Watson's team.
Julie Stage from Watson’s legal team said they were “disappointed” by Wednesday’s ruling.
Watson, a 73-year-old Canadian-American citizen, is a former head of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society whose direct-action tactics, including high-seas confrontations with whaling vessels, have drawn support from A-list celebrities and were featured in the reality television series “Whale Wars.”
Watson was arrested on July 21 when his ship docked in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and handles police and justice matters. Japan does not have an extradition treaty with the Scandinavian country.
Japan’s coast guard sought his arrest following an encounter with a Japanese whaling research ship in 2010. He was accused of obstructing the crew’s official duties by ordering the captain of his ship to throw explosives at the whaling ship.
His foundation posted Wednesday on X a video of Watson in his cell in Nuuk, where he said: “In 50 years, I have not caused a single injury to a single person. I have operated within the boundaries of international law and within boundaries of practicality.”
“I am confident that once the evidence here is reviewed by the appropriate authorities, there will be no grounds to honor Japan's request for extradition,” Watson said.
Whale meat has always been an element of Japanese food culture, and the Japanese government says it supports the sustainable use of whales.
Watson, who left Sea Shepherd in 2022, was also a leading member of Greenpeace, but left in 1977 after disagreements over his aggressive tactics and set up the more action-oriented organization. The group has waged aggressive campaigns to protect whales, dolphins and other marine animals.
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16 Comments
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TokyoLiving
More time for Watson to learn basic Japanese language..
sakurasuki
How many extension without bail? How come Denmark court became like Japan hostage justice system now?
Wasabi
bring him to justice where he will make his case
Patricia Yarrow
Correction needed: "Whale meat has always been a fractional, miniscule element of Japanese food culture, and the Japanese government says it supports the sustainable use of tax money intended for Tohoku earthquake and tsuami recovery."
Patricia Yarrow
tsuami = tsunami
Alan Harrison
bring him to justice where he will make his case
There is no justice in Japan.
Geeter Mckluskie
Until there is any geo-political conflict in which Japan, a country that is only 40% food self-sufficient, could have its shipping lanes cut off, in which case it would suffer famine within weeks, if not days
browny1
What is "Potassic Acid"?
I thought they threw plastic bags of rotten butter - butyric acid - onto the decks, with the intention of staining the decks with a rancid putrid smell, so as to prevent cutting up whale carcasses.
The idea that they were throwing "Potassic Acid" (lol) to harm people is ludicrous.
All of this is a Bread and Circuses act employed by the Japanese govt, which could be putting valuable time, effort and funds to more worthy causes, like helping the devastated fishing industry of Noto Peninsula. Those fishing communities are the ones suffering so much at the moment and contribute far more to society than govt funded whale hunters.
But by all means, I hope the govt pursues this case, because the endgame will only be mud on it's face in the international world of opinion.
Just let it go and get on with the job of helping the nation.
wallace
They threw rancid butter. The devil is in the details.
Fighto!
I trust that the Kingdom of Denmark will comply with Japans' request for extradition. Denmark is a nation that follows Rule of Law, is friendly and very similar in many ways to Japan.
If the charge is as trivial as his supporters seem to claim, then there should be no problem with Watson having his day in court.
indigo
more than 98% of population does not eat whale meat. Japanese food culture is evolving with time showing that those arguments are completely groundless and selfish.
Garthgoyle
Oh extradited to Japan, he will never see a fair trial. Just like Kelly.
Kcquitano
You know, the consumption of whale meat was in decline until people started bitching about it. Greenland is an example of that. This entitled culture of shaming other countries into thinking and behaving like yours, its like colonization all over again. My god is the only god, my culture is the right culture, my way is the only way to be—these people are no different from the priests who kidnapped kids from their parents and placed them in boarding schools to be stripped of their religion, culture, and identity. And if you refuse, bury them in a pit with the rest of the rejects? This industry could sputter out on its own, but its people like this man who want to force his ideals on other people that keep it alive. Ive eaten whale. Ive eaten sea lion and seals and bear. Id eat dolphin too, if i was in the right place at the right time. All in japan. Because, try as you might, japan is different
wallace
The Japanese whaling only survives because of massive government subsidies to an industry employing less than 1,000 workers. Cheaper to pay them to stay at home.
ian
Wasn't he convicted of assault?
ian
They probably call him action watson
indigo
same combat as for the dolphin slaughter in Taiji.
This guy is a legend and will be honored by whale Gods for the eternity.