The Danish Ministry of Justice announced on December 17 that it will not extradite anti-whaling activist Paul Watson despite Japan’s request. 

The former head of the Sea Shepherd group was detained in July of this year in Greenland after Japan issued an international arrest warrant for Watson on suspicion of organizing obstruction on research whaling.

The Danish court extended his detention period six times and had been discussing the possibility of extradition requested by Japan.

However, it decided not to grant extradition in a comprehensive judgement saying that it could not obtain a guarantee from the Japanese side that Watson’s detention period in Greenland would be deducted from his sentence in Japan.

Watson was released on December 17 and claimed on social media that he was falsely accused for political motives.

He said he will head to France where he has applied for asylum.