Dutch government rejects US sanctions on ICC

The Dutch government on Tuesday expressed its disagreement with the latest United States sanctions imposed on a number of officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), based in The Hague, while reaffirming its full support for the court. “International courts and tribunals must be able to carry out their mandates freely. We fully support the court and its staff,” Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said in a social media post. Berendsen said he had invited ICC President Tomoko Akane to discuss the Netherlands’ continued support for the court. The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on Tomoko Akane and a senior ICC trial lawyer, Abdoulaye Seye. “These individuals are directly involved in the ICC’s efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose governments do not consent to the ICC’s jurisdiction,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. In response, the ICC said the sanctions undermine the rule of law.