The Danish authorities are facing a significant decision after receiving an official request for the extradition of environmental activist Paul Watson from Japan. The Ministry of Justice confirmed on Wednesday that a formal request for Watson’s extradition has been received. He is currently detained in Greenland.
The Ministry is now awaiting the verified documents that should accompany the extradition request. Once these are received, the case will be forwarded to the Greenlandic Police (Grønlands Politi), unless the Ministry decides in advance to decline the request based on the existing information. Should the case be handed over to the Greenlandic Police, they will conduct the necessary investigation to determine whether the conditions for extradition are met.
After the police investigation, the extradition question will be returned to the Ministry of Justice, which will make the final decision. The entire process is governed by Greenlandic law.
The 73-year-old Paul Watson, who holds both Canadian and American citizenship, was arrested in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, on July 21. Watson, who co-founded the environmental organization Greenpeace, was detained in the harbor after arriving on the ship “John Paul Dejoria.” His arrest was based on an international arrest warrant issued by Japan in 2010, relating to an incident in Antarctica where Watson allegedly intervened in Japanese whaling activities.
Japanese authorities accuse him of assaulting the whalers and obstructing their work. Watson is currently awaiting a court hearing scheduled for August 15, where it will be determined whether he will be extradited to Japan.
The case has attracted significant international attention, with French President Emmanuel Macron among those urging the Danish authorities not to extradite Watson.