ICC Condemns US Sanctions: An Attack on Judicial Independence!
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday (19/08) condemned United States sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan and Prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal.
“These sanctions constitute a blatant attack on the independence of an impartial judicial institution,” the court based in The Hague, Netherlands, said in a statement.
The ICC said the US sanctions “undermine the rule of law” and endanger the international legal order.
The court affirmed it will “continue to carry out its mandate fully with independence and impartiality, in full accordance with the Rome Statute and in the interests of the victims of international crimes.”
Although the United States signed the Rome Statute in 2000, which formed the basis for the court’s establishment in 2002, the US has never ratified it. Under the administration of President Donald Trump, Washington has accused the ICC of being “politicised.”
The ICC tries cases of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
EU and Japan support the ICC
The European Union and several of its member states expressed support for the ICC.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said they fully support the court in identical statements on their X accounts.
“The ICC helps deliver justice for victims of some of the world’s most horrific crimes. To carry out this vital work, its judges and officials must be able to act independently and without external pressure,” they said.
Meanwhile, German Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig considered it “deeply regrettable that it is precisely the US that is launching a frontal attack on international criminal law.”
She recalled that the US helped build the concept of international criminal law through the Nuremberg trials of members of Nazi Germany’s regime.
“These US sanctions reflect a contempt for the idea of the rule of law that cannot be reconciled with that tradition.”
France also condemned the sanctions in a statement on Wednesday (19/08).
“France condemns all forms of threats and coercive measures directed against the court, its staff, and the civil society organisations that support it,” a French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in the statement.
“France expresses its solidarity with the judges targeted,” the spokesperson continued.
Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Toshihiro Kitamura called the sanctions “highly regrettable”. Japan is also the largest financial contributor to the ICC.
The US sanctions were also condemned by the Netherlands, the country where the ICC is headquartered, as well as Spain and the United Nations.
Why did the US impose sanctions on the ICC?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Tuesday (18/08). He said the action was taken under the authority of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
He described the move as part of an “unwavering mission to protect American citizens from this illegitimate court.”
“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 authority,” Rubio said.
Last month, Rubio said the Trump administration would step up its efforts to dismantle the ICC, including through a diplomatic campaign to persuade other countries to abandon the court.
In 2024, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The move was condemned by the United States. Trump accused the ICC of taking “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.”
Like the US, Israel has also never ratified the Rome Statute and is therefore not a state party to the ICC.
The court has also issued or plans to issue arrest warrants against several senior Hamas leaders who have since died.