Paul Watson, a 74 year old renowned anti-whaling activist and a Vermont resident, has been detained in Nuuk, Greenland since July 21st. He faces potential extradition to Japan on an international arrest warrant for unsubstantiated allegations dating back to events from 2012.

The allegations stem from an accusation made by Japan that a stink bomb was thrown onto their whaling ship by Paul, who was captaining a Sea Shepherd vessel and monitoring illegal whaling activity at a time when Japan was in direct violation of the International Whaling Commission. Footage from the Animal Planet series “Whale Wars” exonerates Paul of the alleged crime – but the court in Greenland is refusing to review this evidence. Additional allegations of trespassing and property damage – also unsubstantiated by the Japanese government – are only punishable by fine, and in Denmark, a suspect cannot be imprisoned for violations that incur fines alone.

That the Danish government has ignored human rights organizations and denied Paul a chance to show his own defense evidence while extending his detention continues to appear as a gesture of political coercion by Japan while violating his human rights. Should the Danish government fail to release Paul on this false imprisonment, and further move to extradite him to Japan, he will face an inhumane justice system – a move on the part of the Danish government that would be an insult to international justice and send a chilling message to environmental activists worldwide.

Not only does this case impact the rights and life of a storied environmental hero – it risks setting a disturbing precedent for international justice.