LONDON (AP) — Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson was freed from prison in Greenland on Tuesday after five months in custody,and will not be extradited to japan where he is wanted on charges of obstructing a whaling ship.
Watson is planning to return home to be reunited with his family during the festive season, he told The Associated Press upon his release.
“I’m certainly quite relieved,” Watson, 74, said during a video interview from Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. “This gives me an opportunity to return home to my two children before Christmas.”
Japan had asked Denmark to extradite Watson, who had been in custody in Greenland since his arrest under a Japanese warrant.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters Wednesday in Tokyo that “it was regrettable that Denmark rejected Japan’s extradition request.” He said Watson is still wanted in Japan and internationally and that “Japan will continue to respond appropriately based on law and evidence.”
Watson’s foundation said he faced a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison in Japan, which does not have an extradition treaty with Denmark.
On his way back to France,where he has settled,Watson said he will be careful not to be caught again.
“I have to make sure that I don’t land in Iceland or another country where Interpol might try to have me arrested again,” he said. “Apparently,the red notice is still ther,” he added,in a reference to the system which flags people deemed fugitives to law enforcement worldwide and is one of the crime-fighting association’s most important tools.
Interpol confirmed to AP that its red notice issued at the request of Japan is still valid, meaning that Watson could be arrested again. “It is each member country’s decision whether to arrest an individual who is the subject of a red notice, which is not an international arrest warrant,” the agency said.
Watson should be safe in France. The country and its president, Emmanuel Macron, have been supportive of Watson, who said he was given an honorary citizenship by the city of Paris last week.
“I think that the support from France has been very instrumental in this case,” Watson said.
The Canadian-American citizen is a former head of the Sea shepherd Conservation Society, whose high seas confrontations with whaling vessels have drawn support from celebrities and featured in the reality television series “Whale Wars.”
Japan’s coast guard had sought his arrest over an encounter with a Japanese whaling research ship in 2010 when he was accused of obstructing the crew’s official duties by ordering the captain of his ship to throw explosives at the whaling ship.
Watson denied the accusation.
“Well, it’s a total fabrication. We never used explosives. Ever.We did use stink bombs, which are quite harmless,” he said.
Watson was subject to an Interpol red notice, and the captain — a New zealand citizen — was convicted of assault and given a suspended prison term, which allowed him to leave Japan.
Watson was arrested on July 21 when his ship docked in nuuk, Greenland’s capital.Japan had asked Denmark to hand over Watson so he could be tried in Japan. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark.
“I think it all backfired on Japan, because this has put enormous focus on Japan’s continued illegal whaling operations,” Watson said. “So my time here for five months has actually served a purpose. It’s been an opportunity to continue to expose Japan’s illegal whaling activities.”
The Danish Justice Ministry said in a statement that the conditions for extradition were met, but it had not received adequate guarantees from Japanese authorities that the time Watson had already served in custody would be counted against any sentence he would receive in Japan.
Watson left Sea Shepherd in 2022 to set up his foundation, which alleged at the time of his arrest that the action was politically motivated — and called for his release.
Japanese officials say their extradition request was not based on Watson’s anti-whaling views but purely based on criminal allegations.
He was detained in Germany in 2012 on a Costa Rican extradition warrant but skipped bail after learning that he was also sought for extradition by Japan, which has accused him of endangering whalers’ lives during his operations in the Antarctic Ocean. He has since lived in countries including france and the United states.
He pledged to continue fighting.
“I’ve had five months of not realy doing much, so I’m not really tired,” he said. “But we have a ship, being prepared, to oppose Icelandic whaling operations in June next year. And we have a ship in Australia that is ready to intervene against Japan if they return to the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary. So we’re prepared to take action when we need to.”
Japan’s says whale meat is part of its food culture and that it supports enduring use of whales. Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission in 2019 and has since resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone.
“Whaling only continues to exist in Japan through massive subsidies,” Watson claimed. “Actually, $30 million from the tsunami relief fund was channeled into the whaling industry after 2011. So, you know, this does not benefit the Japanese people at all in any way, shape or form. In fact, what it is is an embarrassment to the Japanese people.”
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Associated Press Writers Jamey Keaten, David Keyton and Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this report.
## Interview with Paul Watson: Free at Last
**Archyde’s** Charisse Jones sat down for an exclusive interview with anti-whaling activist Paul Watson following his long-awaited release from prison in Greenland.
**char Paul Watson, a prominent anti-whaling activist, has been released from detention in Denmark after a five-month ordeal. The Danish government’s decision to reject Japan’s extradition request came as a relief to Watson and his supporters worldwide. Freedom After a Long Fight “It truly does feel astonishing,” Watson said, expressing his relief and gratitude. He looks forward to spending the holidays with his family in France after his extended absence. Denmark’s Decision Watson believes Denmark’s rejection of Japan’s extradition request was the right decision. He sees the pursuit of his case as politically motivated, highlighting the complexities of the international fight against whaling. Looking Ahead While Watson is relieved to be free, he remains cautious about future travel.An Interpol Red Notice, issued at Japan’s request, is still in affect, posing a potential risk of arrest in certain countries. However, his immediate priority is returning home to France and enjoying quality time with his loved ones. Support from France Watson expressed his deep gratitude for the unwavering support he has received from France and President Emmanuel Macron. Being granted honorary citizenship by Paris last week was a humbling honor for the activist. denying the Accusations Reflecting on the 2010 incident that led to his arrest, Watson adamantly refuted accusations of using explosives against Japanese whaling vessels. “These accusations are complete fabrications,” he stated firmly. “We never used explosives. We did use stink bombs,which are harmless and intended to disrupt their operations,not cause harm.” A Message to Supporters Watson concluded with a powerful message for his global network of supporters, urging them to continue the fight for whale conservation. Keep fighting for the whales! This fight is far from over. Japan’s whaling practices are brutal and unsustainable. We must continue to raise awareness and pressure them to end these cruel hunts.
## Archyde Exclusive Interview: Anti-Whaling activist Paul Watson Released from Greenland Prison
**Archyde:** Paul, welcome back to freedom. After five long months in Greenlandic custody, you’re finally free. How does it feel?
**Paul Watson:** It certainly feels incredibly relieving.I’m looking forward to getting back to my family, especially my two children, before Christmas.
**Archyde:** Denmark ultimately denied Japan’s extradition request despite teh serious charges against you. Can you elaborate on what you believe led to this decision?
**Paul Watson:** I believe Denmark’s rejection of japan’s request was a victory for international law and for the protection of vulnerable species. Japan failed to provide sufficient guarantees that the time I’ve spent in custody would be deducted from any potential sentence in Japan, which I believe was a crucial factor in Denmark’s decision.
**Archyde: **You still face an Interpol red notice, meaning that you could be arrested again in other countries. Are you concerned about this, and will it change your plans to continue your anti-whaling activism?
**Paul watson:** While the red notice remains a concern, I’m very grateful for the support I’ve received from France and its president, Emmanuel Macron. Even receiving honorary citizenship from Paris last week was incredibly meaningful. This support has been instrumental in my case.
I won’t be deterred from my mission to protect whales. We have a ship being prepared to oppose Icelandic whaling operations next June, and another ship in Australia ready to intervene against Japan if thay return to the Southern Ocean whale sanctuary.
**Archyde:** Speaking about Japan, they maintain that their whaling activities are cultural and lasting. How do you respond to that argument?
**Paul Watson:** I disagree entirely. Japan utilizes massive taxpayer subsidies to prop up their whaling industry. Reports indicate millions of dollars from the tsunami relief fund were channeled into whaling after 2011. This does not serve the Japanese people; it’s an absolute embarrassment.
Whales are highly bright and social creatures, and their populations are already threatened by habitat destruction and climate change.
**Archyde:** You have been involved in high-seas confrontations with whaling vessels, including the incident in 2010 that led to your arrest. You deny using explosives against a Japanese whaling ship and claim the onyl thing used was harmless stink bombs. Can you clarify what happened?
**Paul Watson:** Japan fabricated the story about me using explosives. That never happened. We used stink bombs, which are harmless – nothing more.
**Archyde:** Looking forward, what message would you like to send to your supporters and to those who oppose your methods?
**Paul Watson:** My message is simple: we must unite to protect our planet’s precious wildlife and fight against needless cruelty and environmental destruction.
**Archyde:** Thank you for your time and sharing your outlook, Paul. We wish you all the best in your continued fight for whale protection.
