Petition calls on Emmanuel Macron to rescue

Environment – He is the savior of “5000 Cetaceans”. A team of personalities from all sides (including actor Pierre Niney, host Nagy, and pastry chef Christophe Michalak) signed a forum in launchOn Monday, July 22, to demand the release of Captain Paul Watson, who was arrested on Sunday in Greenland for his fight against whaling. 385,000 people have already signed. Petition At the time of writing.

Danish police have arrested the American-Canadian environmental activist and founder of Sea Shepherd while he was in… “Heading to the North Pacific to prevent the Japanese ship Kanji Maru from killing whales”I remind the signatories. Paul Watson is the target of an arrest warrant from Japan for his militant activities, is in detention and risks extradition to that country, and they remain concerned.

That's why the authors of this column are calling on French President Emmanuel Macron to “ To contact Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to demand the immediate release of Paul Watson “. And add: “Mr. President, we are counting on you!”

Actor Pierre Richard also signed the podium and “He called on all countries to mobilize for the immediate release of Paul Watson.”He said in a video clip he posted on his account on the X website, recalling that the environmental defender is 73 years old, denouncing: “ He risks spending 15 years in prison, which means he risks dying there, and never seeing his wife and children again.”.

Resident in France for one year

VaquitaThe media launched by Hugo Clement this Tuesday afternoon on Channel X indicated that Emmanuel Macron “ I have discussed the matter and that French diplomacy is working to try to release him. “. The information has been confirmed in HuffPost By the Quai d'Orsay, but specifically: ” However, since Mr. Watson is a Canadian citizen, the exercise of consular protection is exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Canadian authorities.The Elysee also adds to HuffPost that “ The President of the Republic is closely monitoring the situation and France is intervening with the Danish authorities so that Paul Watson is not extradited to Japan.”

The signatories also note that for a year the Oceans Defender was “ He resides in France where he continues to fight alongside Sea Shepherd France. “. Which seems to be enough reason for them to ask the French head of state to intervene.

For its part, Sea Shepherd announced on its X website that the attempt “ Sponsorship “The NGO's initiative has failed.

Nuuk District Court, Greenland, “I have decided to detain Paul Watson until August 15 and the decision has been appealed to the Supreme Court of Greenland.”The decision on whether or not to extradite Paul Watson will ultimately rest with the Danish justice ministry, Judge Stig Norskov Jensen of the Greenland court said in a letter to AFP.

See also on HuffPost: