Paul Watson is a 75-year-old activist who faced 15 years in prison in Japan, which is practically life imprisonment at his age. Tokyo had been hunting him for years due to Watson and his men disrupting whaling ships. When he was arrested in Greenland less than half a year ago, he was at risk of extradition to Japan. Many famous people got involved in his defense.
– It's good to be free after five months. It's good to know that I won't be handed over to the Japanese, said Paul Watson, an activist.
For his activities against whaling, he was detained on the basis of the so-called Interpol red notice. He spent his birthday and the last few months in prison in Greenland, and the Danish justice system kept extending his pre-trial detention.
In Japan, he faces 15 years in prison
Paul Watson, an American-Canadian activist defending marine life, was supported by anonymous people around the world, but also by famous singers and outstanding actors, calling for his release.
– Imagine if every nation on this planet could raise just one activist with as much courage and dedication as Paul Watson. Now imagine our world without this one, said actor and activist Martin Sheen.
It finally worked. Watson was unexpectedly released from prison on Tuesday. – I'm relieved, especially because thanks to this I can return home before Christmas – commented Paul Watson.
The naturalist was arrested in July when his ship docked in Greenland's capital, Nuuk. Police were acting on the basis of a Japanese arrest warrant from 2012. According to authorities in Tokyo, Captain Watson is responsible for unlawfully boarding a Japanese whaling ship in 2010. In Japan, he faces 15 years in prison.
“Paul Watson has been issued an arrest warrant as an accomplice in an incident involving obstruction of business, damage to property and causing injuries to crew,” said Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's cabinet secretary.
“My crime was being sensitive.”
The Danish Justice Ministry said it would not comply with Japan's extradition request, basing its decision on the “nature of the circumstances” of the incident and the fact that the incident in question occurred 14 years ago.
– I missed my youngest son's third birthday and my oldest son's eighth birthday. And for what reason? I didn't do anything wrong. My crime was being sensitive, said Paul Watson.
“We have to protest like this.” Last Generation demonstrations are controversialJacek Tacik/Fakty TVN
The 74-year-old captain claims that Japan's actions are revenge for a television program with his participation that was intended to embarrass Japan in the eyes of the world. Whaling and eating whale meat is heavily criticized by conservation groups, but Japanese officials say it is part of the country's culture and way of life.
– The thought of eating whale meat brings back my childhood memories. In other countries they ate beef, but in our country they ate whales, said Kunitake Suzuki, a resident of Japan.
Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Convention and resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after a 30-year hiatus, although during that time it continued whaling for what it said was research purposes.
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Main photo source: Reuters