Paul Watson Arrest: Emmanuel Macron 'Intervenes' with Denmark to Prevent Extradition of Activist

French President Emmanuel Macron “We are monitoring the situation closely.” And “Intervenes with the Danish authorities” Japan will avoid extraditing anti-whaling activist Paul Watson to Japan, a spokesman said Tuesday.

The 73-year-old Canadian-American activist and founder of the NGO Sea Shepherd has been living in France for a year.

Targeted by an international arrest warrant issued by Japan, he was arrested in Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, and placed in custody until August 15. The Danish Ministry of Justice must make the decision on his extradition.

388,000 signatures on the petition

The parliamentary environmental group called on the President of the Republic, on Monday, to mediate with the Danish Prime Minister. “In order to obtain his immediate release.”

An online petition called “Emmanuel Macron must demand the release of Paul Watson” It had more than 388,000 signatures as of Tuesday.

The activist was arrested on his vessel, which had just docked in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, on Sunday to refuel with the aim of “intercepting” a new Japanese whaling factory ship in the North Pacific, the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF) said in a press release.

Japan, along with Norway and Iceland, is one of the last three countries in the world that still engages in commercial whaling.

under red notice

According to the CPWF, Paul Watson was arrested on the basis of an Interpol Red Notice for his previous actions in Antarctica.

“The Japanese arrest warrant is illegal and violates all international human rights treaties.”One of Watson's lawyers, Francois Zimeray, told AFP:

Watson was wanted by Japan after the country believed he caused damage and injuries in two incidents in the Antarctic Ocean in 2010 against a Japanese whaling ship.