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[Global Times Report] According to a report by AFP on July 24, Paul Watson, the founder of the anti-whaling group "Sea Shepherd Society" who was internationally wanted by Japan, was arrested in Denmark a few days ago. The French presidential office confirmed on the 23rd that Macron is urging Denmark not to extradite Watson to Japan.

File photo of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson

The French presidential office reportedly said Macron was "closely following developments" and "negotiating with the Danish government." Watson was reportedly arrested on the Danish island of Greenland on the 21st. He will be detained until August 15th, and the Danish Ministry of Justice will decide whether to extradite him. The Captain Paul Foundation, a group related to the Sea Shepherd Society, said in a statement that the ship Watson was on when he was arrested was "intercepting" a Japanese whaling ship in the North Pacific.

According to reports from Agence France-Presse and Japan's Kyodo News, Watson is a US and Canadian citizen who has lived in France for the past year. In 2010, members of the Sea Shepherd Society injured Japanese crew members while blocking a Japanese whaling fleet, and Japan issued an international arrest warrant for Watson through Interpol.

According to Agence France-Presse, in France, an online petition asking Macron to release Watson has received 388,000 signatures. French Green Party lawmakers are also putting pressure on Macron. In addition, 89-year-old French entertainment legend Brigitte Bardot said in an interview with the media on the 22nd, "We must do everything we can to save Paul."