Paul Watson requested political asylum in France from Emmanuel Macron, announces Sea Shepherd – Libération

The Asylum Adventures of Paul Watson: A Whale of a Tale

Well, fancy that! Paul Watson—no stranger to the high seas and high drama—has found himself in quite the pickle. This 73-year-old environmental activist is currently locked up in Nuuk, Greenland, potentially facing extradition to Japan faster than you can say “free Willy!”

From Eco-Warrior to Eco-Prisoner

For nearly 90 days now, Watson has been marinating in pre-trial detention, all due to an international arrest warrant issued by our friends in Japan. They’re not just sending him a couple of sushi rolls; they’re accusing him of “forcible obstruction of trade” and “vandalism”—crimes allegedly committed during a daring anti-whaling campaign back in the 2010s. Now, you’d think they’d offer a round of applause for defending whales, not a round of handcuffs!

And what’s this? From the dark depths of his cell, Watson scribbled a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron himself, requesting political asylum. You just know the other inmates are rolling their eyes, thinking, “Here we go again, another one writing to the president about a ‘cry for help.’”

The ‘Ecological Pirate’ Goes to France

In his letter, Watson refers to himself as an “ecological pirate.” I mean, who needs a treasure map when you can raid the high seas for whale-lovers’ hearts instead? He claims it’s all about his life’s work opposing activities that exploit ocean life. Talk about swimming against the tide—he’s diving headfirst into a sea of legal drama!

His loyal legal team is diving right in as well, stating that if France grants him asylum, it would be a recognition of his persecution. Because nothing screams “rescue mission” quite like saving the whales… while trying to save your own skin from international extradition!

France: The Land of Cheese, Wine, and Political Asylum?

Is asylum in France a solution for Watson? Well, it might not be on the menu at your favorite bistro just yet. Macron’s office claims they’re “monitoring the situation closely.” I can picture them now, sipping espresso and turning this into a high-stakes diplomatic chess game. “Your move, Japan!”

And let’s not forget the drama of his arrest on his own ship, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria—oh, the irony! There’s a metaphor in there somewhere about being chased by the very whales you’re trying to save.

What’s Next for Watson and the Whales?

So, what’s the timeline? A decision from the Danish Minister of Justice could mysteriously pop up anytime soon—or remain as elusive as a fleeting whale sighting. Until then, it seems like Paul Watson’s life is a bizarre blend of courtroom drama and eco-pirate antics.

As his NGO, Sea Shepherd, rallies round, one can’t help but think that perhaps in the world of activism, it’s not just about saving whales but about navigating your own ship through murky waters. And if nothing else, we can applaud Watson for keeping the spirit of eco-activism alive—if only to give us all a chuckle amidst the seriousness of it all!

So grab your popcorn, folks. This soap opera has everything: a heroic captain, an unsuspected navy of legal battles, and the looming threat of extradition. Who knew environmental activism could be the next big reality TV hit?

The environmental activist, behind bars for almost 90 days, asked the French president to grant him political asylum in France, said his NGO Sea Shepherd this Wednesday, October 16.

Faced with possible extradition to Japan, would asylum be the solution for Paul Watson? Incarcerated in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, since July 21, the environmental activist and inveterate defender of whales – subject to an extradition request from Japan for acts dating back 14 years – asked Emmanuel Macron to grant him political asylum in France, the NGO Sea Shepherd France announced this Wednesday during a press conference. From his cell, the 73-year-old American-Canadian activist, who lived in France before being arrested, wrote a letter to the head of state dated October 4. This missive was then sent to Paris via its support Lamya Essemlali, president of the association, then transmitted to the Elysée by its legal team on October 11, specifies one of its lawyers François Zimeray. “It’s a form of cry for help,” he comments.

“By this letter I humbly and respectfully wish to request political asylum in France,” writes the “ecological pirate” in his two-page handwritten document. For 50 years, I have dedicated my life to non-violent opposition against illegal activities that exploit ocean life and diversity.” Paul Watson, placed in pre-trial detention for more than eighty days on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by the Japanese authorities, is accused by Japan of “forcible obstruction of trade, harm to physical integrity, intrusion into a vessel and vandalism” for acts dating from 2010 during an anti-whaling harassment campaign led by Sea Shepherd in the Southern Ocean. At the beginning of the month, for the third time in a row, the activist made a request for release which was rejected by Greenlandic judges. A new hearing on his extension (or not) in detention is scheduled for October 23, pending arbitration by the Danish Ministry of Justice on the Japanese extradition request. This request for political asylum is also a way of maintaining pressure.

“A request for choice and heart”

“If a great rule of law granted political asylum to Paul Watson, that means that a great rule of law would recognize that he is persecuted,” explained William Julié, another lawyer for the defender of biodiversity. “The French public authorities have always supported him, this request for political asylum is a request of choice and of the heart,” expresses his colleague and coordinator of the legal team, Jean Tamalet. Since the arrest of the founder of Sea Shepherd this summer, Emmanuel Macron’s entourage claims that the Elysée is working diplomatically behind the scenes and “monitoring the situation closely.”

Paul Watson was arrested in July by Danish police on the deck of his flagship, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria. The “captain” and 25 volunteers from his foundation had come to refuel in Nuuk in order to chase the Kangei Maru, the new factory harpoon ship of the Japanese fleet inaugurated in May. Regarding extradition to Japan, Jonas Christoffersen, the activist’s Danish lawyer, explained during the press conference that it was possible that a decision by the Danish government would be made official in the coming weeks. “We do not know exactly when, but the Copenhagen public prosecutor’s office should soon deliver its recommendations to the Danish Minister of Justice, who will then have to decide,” he said.