Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected a Japanese extradition request on Tuesday, freeing Canadian-American anti-whaling activist Paul Watson from a Greenland jail after a five-month confinement. Watson, one of the world’s most well-known anti-whaling activists, was held on July 21 in the port of Nuuk, Greenland, on an Interpol international arrest order. Greenland is autonomous, however it has been part of Denmark since 1953. Watson was a Greenpeace member before founding the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, but he was dismissed from the board following a series of worldwide arrests. He established his own Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022.

Nature & EnvironmentDenmark Denmark releases anti-whaling activist Paul Watson. Two hours ago.Two hours ago. Paul Watson, an anti-whaling activist, has been released after five months in a Greenland jail. Watson, an anti-whaling campaigner, is pictured in frigid Nuuk, Greenland, after being freed from jail on December 17, 2025. Japan claims he attacked one of their whaling ships in 2010. Watson calls the charges “a total fabrication.” Paul Watson said it was ‘a relief’ to be able to see his family for Christmas, but vowed that his campaign against whaling would begin in the new year. Advertisement Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected a Japanese extradition request on Tuesday, freeing Canadian-American anti-whaling activist Paul Watson from a Greenland jail after a five-month confinement. Watson, one of the world’s most famous

After his release, the 74-year-old activist expressed relief that he will be able to return home to his two children before Christmas. He plans to avoid stopping in countries with extradition treaties with Japan on his way back to France. “I have to make sure that I don’t land in Iceland or another country where Interpol might try to arrest me again.”

https://p.dw.com/p/4oHDW Nature & EnvironmentDenmark Denmark releases anti-whaling activist Paul Watson. Two hours ago.Two hours ago. Paul Watson, an anti-whaling activist, has been released after five months in a Greenland jail. Japan claims he attacked one of their whaling ships in 2010, but Watson calls the allegations “a total fabrication.” https://p.dw.com/p/4oHDW Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson is pictured in frigid Nuuk, Greenland, after being released from jail on December 17, 2025. Paul Watson said it was ‘a relief’ to be able to see his family for Christmas, but vowed that his campaign against whaling would begin in the new year. Advertisement Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected a Japanese extradition request on Tuesday, freeing Canadian-American anti-whaling activist Paul Watson from a Greenland jail after a five-month confinement. Watson is one of the continue his fight, saying: “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.”

Nature & EnvironmentDenmark Denmark releases anti-whaling activist Paul Watson. Two hours ago.Two hours ago. Paul Watson, an anti-whaling activist, has been released after five months in a Greenland jail. Japan claims he attacked one of their whaling ships in 2010, but Watson calls the allegations “a total fabrication.” https://p.dw.com/p/4oHDW Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson is pictured in frigid Nuuk, Greenland, after being released from jail on December 17, 2025. Paul Watson said it was ‘a relief’ to be able to see his family for Christmas, but vowed that his campaign against whaling would begin in the new year. Advertisement Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected a Japanese extradition request on Tuesday, freeing Canadian-American anti-whaling activist Paul Watson from a Greenland jail after a five-month confinement. Watson, among the world’s. Watson dismisses this as a joke, claiming that “whaling only exists in Japan because of massive subsidies.” In fact, $30 million (€29 million) from the tsunami relief money was transferred to the whaling sector following 2011. So, you know, this has absolutely no advantage for the Japanese people. In fact, it is an embarrassment for the Japanese people.” The Japanese Embassy in Copenhagen has no reaction on Watson’s release. Is it possible to set a price on whales and trees?