Prominent figures put pressure on Denmark after attention-grabbing arrest

Is Denmark on the side of the whales or the whalers?

The question arises once again after the well-known and radical whale activist Paul Watson was arrested in Greenland over the weekend due to an old arrest warrant from Japan.

The arrest has garnered attention from several notable figures, including primatologist Jane Goodall, who has urged the Danish government to release Watson and refuse any extradition request from Japan.

- Whaling is cruel and unnecessary, and every single whale counts. Captain Watson is merely trying to prevent the inhumane killing of whales, which most countries have banned for decades, writes British primatologist Jane Goodall.

Images of Greenlandic police arresting Paul Watson over the weekend.

Brigitte Bardot, the French actress and 50's icon, has also weighed in on the arrest, calling it a "manhunt." According to the French media Le Parisien, she says, "We must act to save this brave man."

French President Emmanuel Macron has also reportedly urged Denmark not to extradite Watson to Japan, and Macron "is following the situation closely," according to news agency AFP.

> Paul Watson was in fact on his way to Japan, so if they want to arrest him, they can do so when he arrives in Japan.

> Søren Egge Rasmussen, environmental spokesperson, Enhedslisten

The Foreign Ministry confirms to DR that they are in contact with several countries regarding the matter, including France and Japan.

The Japanese embassy in Denmark also confirms that Japan is in dialogue with Denmark but declines to comment on the French statement.

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Wondering about Denmark's role

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In Denmark, Enhedslisten is calling for support from the French president. Søren Egge Rasmussen, the party's environmental and animal welfare spokesperson, wonders in general about Denmark's role in the matter.

- Paul Watson was in fact on his way to Japan, so if they want to arrest him, they can do so when he arrives in Japan.

Paul Watson and the crew of the ship 'John Paul De Joria' had, according to the latest video with the 73-year-old activist, been heading towards the new Japanese whaling vessel Kangei Maru, which is built to kill, pack, and freeze up to 600 million tons of whale meat. The activists' goal was also to "disrupt" the ship's work.

* Kangei Maru is the first Japanese newbuild in many years and replaces the ship Nisshin Maru, which activists often targeted. (Photo: © Tosei Kisanuki, Associated Press)

* The ship was shown off in Tokyo in May 2024, and a large banner at the slaughter area of a finwhale illustrated the ship's capacity. Finwhales can grow up to 27 meters long and weigh several tons, which Kangei Maru can haul aboard. Finwhales are considered an endangered species. (Photo: © Toshikazu Sato, Associated Press)

* There are 40 refrigerated rooms with a capacity for 15 tons of whale meat in each on the ship, which is the world's only "whaling mother ship." (Photo: © Daisuke Urakami, Associated Press)

* The whale meat is packed and frozen on board the 112.6-meter-long ship. (Photo: © Toshikazu Sato, Associated Press)

* Despite the controversial and banned whaling, the new ship was presented under heavy press coverage. (Photo: © Toshikazu Sato, Associated Press)

1 / 5 Kangei Maru is the first Japanese newbuild in many years and replaces the ship Nisshin Maru, which activists often targeted. (Photo: © Tosei Kisanuki, Associated Press) 1 / 5 The ship was shown off in Tokyo in May 2024, and a large banner at the slaughter area of a finwhale illustrated the ship's capacity. Finwhales can grow up to 27 meters long and weigh several tons, which Kangei Maru can haul aboard. Finwhales are considered an endangered species. (Photo: © Toshikazu Sato, Associated Press) 2 / 5 There are 40 refrigerated rooms with a capacity for 15 tons of whale meat in each on the ship, which is the world's only "whaling mother ship." (Photo: © Daisuke Urakami, Associated Press) 3 / 5 The whale meat is packed and frozen on board the 112.6-meter-long ship. (Photo: © Toshikazu Sato, Associated Press) 4 / 5 Despite the controversial and banned whaling, the new ship was presented under heavy press coverage. (Photo: © Toshikazu Sato, Associated Press) 5 / 5

Enhedslisten does not trust that the controversial and well-known whale activist will receive a fair trial in Japan. Søren Egge Rasmussen does not believe it is just a matter of following an international arrest warrant for Denmark but a political issue.

- We end up where the government has to choose a side: Will it be on the side of the whales or Japan, which is breaking international whaling conventions, he says.

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Unlawful hunt of endangered species

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In 1986, the International Whaling Commission, which Japan is a member of, banned hunting of all large whales. However, Japanese whalers have been catching the endangered species allegedly for "scientific research" since 1987.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled in 2014 that this was, in fact, commercial whaling and therefore illegal.

Activists believe the new combat ship is built to sail outside Japanese waters and resume illegal whaling. The company behind the ship has previously rejected this.

Paul Watson's activist style is, in his own words, "aggressive non-violent." He often positions himself between whaling ships and their catch, and videos show Sea Shepherd ships, which he founded, observing whaling ships.

Would we not also demand his extradition if someone had done what Japan accuses Paul Watson of doing?

- It's a ridiculous situation because Japan has been hunting whales illegally at the Antarctic, and Watson has been conducting actions against it. So why support Japan when they are out hunting whales illegally, says Enhedslisten Søren Egge Rasmussen.

> Parts of the political spectrum argue that it would be an infringement on Japan's cultural traditions if they were to completely stop eating whale meat.

> Jens Sejrup, adjunct in Japanese studies, Copenhagen University

Japan's arrest warrant concerns two incidents from 2010 in the Antarctic, and in an email to DR, the Japanese embassy in Denmark emphasizes the accusations of obstructing "the execution of business."

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The right to whale meat has become political

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Japan is one of the few countries that still hunts whales, and according to Jens Sejrup, adjunct in Japanese studies at Copenhagen University, the issue is sensitive in Japan, even though the demand for whale meat is not particularly high anymore.

- Today, whaling has more of an ideological significance in Japan. Parts of the political spectrum argue that it would be an infringement on Japan's cultural traditions if they were to completely stop eating whale meat, he explains.

In the European Parliament, there are now petitions being collected to urge Denmark to reject any potential extradition request from Japan for Paul Watson.

Paul Watson remains in custody until August 15. Japan must submit a formal extradition request within 30 days of the arrest, but according to the Justice Ministry, this has not yet happened.

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