Paul Watson, the anti-whaling activist and founder of Sea Shepherd, has requested political asylum from French President Emmanuel Macron. Lamya Essemlali, head of Sea Shepherd France, revealed at a press conference in Paris that Watson sent a letter to Macron several days ago requesting asylum.

The defender of the oceans is still in detention in Greenland pending a decision on his extradition to Japan, the Nuuk court ruled on Wednesday. In France, mobilization is growing in support of the activist.

Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has requested French nationality, his lawyer Jean Tamalet told AFP on Thursday, as Paris pushes for his release from a Greenland jail where he is being held pending possible extradition to Japan.

Paul Watson, the founder of marine conservation group Sea Shepherd is facing extradition from Denmark to Japan, where he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for an alleged attack on a whaling vessel 12 years ago.

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson has asked the French president to grant him asylum as he fights a Japanese attempt to have him extradited from Greenland, where the prominent anti-whaling activist

Paul Watson wrote in a letter to Emmanuel Macron 'asking for political asylum' in France, according to the head of Sea Shepherd France.

Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson will remain in detention in Greenland where he has been held since July while Denmark decides whether to extradite him to Japan, local police said on Wednesday. U.S.-Canadian Watson,

Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson has applied for French nationality as he fights a Japanese attempt to have him extradited from Greenland, where the prominent anti-whaling activist was arrested in July.

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson will remain in detention in Greenland where he has been held since July while Denmark decides whether to extradite him to Japan, local police said on Wednesday.