French film star Brigitte Bardot has slammed Japan for its "manhunt" of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, detained under an international warrant issued by Tokyo.
Watson was arrested in Greenland – an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark – on Sunday, and pending a decision on his possible extradition to Japan, he will be held until 15 August.
His ship had docked to refuel on its way to "intercept" Japan's new whaling factory vessel in the North Pacific, according to the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF).
French screen legend turned animal rights activist Bardot told Le Parisien in an interview published on Monday that "the Japanese government... launched a global manhunt" against Watson who was "caught in the trap".
"We must do everything to save Paul," she said.
Outrage
Over 300,000 people have signed a petition in support of Watson, including French environmental activist Hugo Clément.
"We are deeply outraged that a man who dedicated his life to protecting endangered animals is today arrested at the request of a state that does not respect the law," he told the press.
The statement calls on French President Emmanuel Macron "to contact the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, to demand the immediate release of Paul Watson."
Watson, who featured in the reality TV series Whale Wars, founded the Sea Shepherd and the CPWF organisations, and has drawn attention for direct action tactics, including confrontations with whaling ships at sea.
Red Notice since 2012
"The Japanese arrest warrant is illegal. It violates all international treaties on human rights," according to François Zimeray, one of Watson's lawyers, judging that in the event of extradition, Denmark would "violate its own Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights".
CPWF said it believed his arrest was in connection with an Interpol Red Notice related to Watson's previous anti-whaling activities in the Antarctic.
Japan's government made no comment but a spokeswoman for the Japanese coastguard told French news agency AFP on Monday it was aware of the arrest.
"The coastguard will continue to take appropriate steps based on coordination with related entities," the spokeswoman said.
The Red Notice was issued in 2012, with an Interpol statement at the same saying Watson was wanted by Japan on charges of causing damage and injury in two incidents in the Antarctic Ocean in 2010 against a Japanese whaling ship.
(with AFP)
