ICC says US sanctions ‘flagrant attack’ on court independence

The International Criminal Court (ICC) expressed outrage over recent sanctions imposed by the United States on its president and senior trial lawyer, branding it a "flagrant attack" on the court's independence. Washington sanctioned the ICC's Japanese president, Tomoko Akane, and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal on Tuesday.

The US stated that these actions are part of its ongoing campaign against the ICC, which it calls "corrupt and fatally politicized." The European Union swiftly backed the ICC, with key officials vowing to stand firmly behind the court and its leadership. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa emphasized the need for the ICC to operate independently and without external pressure.

Germany's foreign ministry echoed this sentiment, stressing the "central importance" of the court's independence, while the Netherlands, which hosts the ICC, also denounced the US move. Spain described the ICC as "the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system." The court responded by stating that these sanctions are a "flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution" and that they undermine the rule of law.

The US sanctions follow measures imposed on several ICC officials, primarily in response to the court's investigations involving Israel, a close US ally. Japan, the largest funder of the ICC and a close US ally, also objected to the sanctions, calling them "very unfortunate." Japan is not a party to the treaty that established the ICC.

The US has previously sanctioned officials of the ICC, barring them from entering the country and from engaging in financial transactions within the US system. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu applauded the US sanctions, accusing the ICC of being a "kangaroo court" and expressing support for the measures. The US has long criticized the ICC, arguing that it is a corrupt and politicized supranational body that abuses its authority.

Four human rights groups have also filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its sanctions targeting the ICC, claiming that these measures prevent victims of war crimes from seeking justice.