Macron Urges Denmark Not to Extradite Activist

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Denmark not to extradite Canadian-American environmental activist Paul Watson to Japan, according to a statement from his office reported by AFP. Watson, a co-founder of Greenpeace and a controversial figure, was arrested in Greenland on charges stemming from a 2010 altercation with Japanese whalers in Antarctica. The activist is currently detained in Greenland, awaiting a court decision on August 15 regarding his potential extradition. Macron is closely monitoring the situation and in communication with Danish authorities. An online petition in France has garnered 388,000 signatures calling for Watson’s release, and French actress Brigitte Bardot has publicly supported efforts to save him. Greenland’s police have confirmed the decision of custody and indicated that Denmark’s Ministry of Justice will determine the extradition. Watson’s defense team argues extradition would violate the European Convention on Human Rights, as they claim Japan does not adhere to human rights standards.