\n<\/p>\n
PARIS (AP) \u2014 Environmental activist Paul Watson, who is detained in Greenland and facing possible extradition to Japan, has formally requested French citizenship after France\u2019s Foreign Minister said his earlier bid for political asylum<\/a> could not be processed because he is not on French soil.<\/p>\n Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd and a prominent anti-whaling advocate, was detained in Nuuk, Greenland, in July as he sought to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. Japan, which has long sought Watson\u2019s extradition, accuses him of obstructing commercial whaling activities and injuring crew members during a confrontation in Antarctic waters in 2010.<\/p>\n His recent appeal for French citizenship, announced by his lawyer Jean Tamalet Thursday, reflects a strategic shift following comments by Foreign Minister Jean-No\u00ebl Barrot\u2019s that asylum requests must be filed within France.<\/p>\n Tamalet emphasized Watson\u2019s significant contributions to marine conservation, aligning with France\u2019s environmental priorities, and argued that his work merits \u201cexceptional services\u201d consideration under French naturalization protocols.<\/p>\n The French government is now examining Watson\u2019s citizenship application, while Environment Minister Agn\u00e8s Pannier-Runacher reiterated France\u2019s call for his release from custody. Watson expressed his gratitude to President Emmanuel Macron.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n