Paul Watson, the anti-whaling activist and founder of Sea Shepherd, has requested political asylum from French President Emmanuel Macron.
Lamya Essemlali, head of Sea Shepherd France, revealed at a press conference in Paris that Watson sent a letter to Macron several days ago requesting asylum.
Watson arrest
The 73-year-old US-Canadian activist was arrested in July in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
Outcry in France as Greenland keeps anti-whaling crusader Paul Watson in jail
From prison, Watson "wrote a letter to Emmanuel Macron," Essemlali confirmed, stating that he is seeking asylum in France.
Watson was detained while his ship, the John Paul DeJoria, was refueling en route to confront a Japanese whaling vessel in the North Pacific, according to the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF).
His arrest is linked to a 2012 Japanese warrant accusing him of damaging a whaling ship in 2010 and injuring a crew member with a stink bomb during an anti-whaling protest.
Greenland extends detention of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson
France, where Watson resided prior to his arrest, has asked Denmark to prevent his extradition. Watson’s French lawyer, François Zimeray, argued at the press conference that Watson merely exposed Japan’s illegal whaling activities and warned that Watson "will never get a fair trial" if extradited.
Zimeray added that "if imprisoned in Japan, he will never get out alive."
In September, Watson's legal team reached out to the UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders, expressing concerns that he could face "inhumane treatment" in Japanese prisons.
