Paul Watson’s Greenland Detention Extended

Longtime anti-whaling activist Captain Paul Watson has once again been ordered to remain in detention in Greenland while Danish officials deliberate Japan's request for his extradition.

The new ruling will keep Captain Watson in jail until at least October 23rd, meaning the 73-year-old conservationist will have spent over three months in detention before a final decision is made on his case.

If he is ultimately sent to Japan to stand trial, he could face up to 15 years in jail. This would effectively amount to a life sentence for the senior activist, who is being held on trumped-up charges stemming from his efforts to expose the illegal actions of the Japanese whaling industry.

Japan's Foreign Minister, Takeshi Iwaya, recently made a public comment on the case, audaciously claiming that Captain Watson's detention is "an issue of law enforcement at sea rather than a whaling issue." This statement is clearly false and misleading, as Japan attempts to deflect international condemnation for its resumption of commercial whaling, including the hunting of endangered whales under the false pretense of "scientific research."

Japan should be ashamed of its blatant disregard for the well-being of endangered marine life and should not be using Captain Watson as a scapegoat for its immoral actions. The Danish government has an ethical obligation to release Captain Watson on humanitarian grounds and should not allow him to be used as a political pawn by a nation committing environmental crimes.

If you have not already, please take a moment to send a letter to the Danish Minister for Justice, Peter Hummelgaard, urging him to take immediate action to release Captain Paul Watson.

Together, we can help ensure real justice is served for this conservation hero.