{
  "id": 1838922,
  "title": "US sanctions ICC President Tomoko Akane over claims of ‘politicised’ court",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/us-sanctions-icc-president-tomoko-akane-over-claims-of-politicised",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T00:43:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/08/19/us-sanctions-icc-president-tomoko-akane-over-claims-of-politicised-court/231837"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane of Japan, accusing her of being involved in \"politicized\" investigations, as part of its ongoing campaign against the court. The move comes just days after the U.S. targeted ICC Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal with similar sanctions.\n\nAccording to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the individuals sanctioned \"have directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.\" The ICC responded by saying the U.S. sanctions \"undermine the rule of law,\" warning that such actions threaten international legal order.\n\nThe U.S., which is not a party to the treaty establishing the ICC, has previously sanctioned several ICC officials. The sanctions bar them from entering the United States and from engaging in financial transactions within the U.S. financial system. This latest action is a response to ICC investigations targeting Israel, a U.S. ally, including an arrest warrant issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war in Gaza.\n\nThe U.S. has ramped up its diplomatic pressure on the ICC, accusing the court of \"threatening\" Americans and calling on partners to withdraw from the body. Chad and Venezuela have already announced their intentions to leave, concerns which the ICC has expressed over, fearing it could weaken the collective pursuit of justice.\n\nThe U.S.'s stance on the ICC is clear, with Secretary Rubio stating that the court is \"corrupt and fatally politicized.\" Four human rights groups have also filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump over his sanctions targeting the ICC, arguing that the measures prevent victims of war crimes from seeking justice. In 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, leading Moscow to retaliate by issuing arrest warrants for key ICC officials.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON, Aug 19 — The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions against International Criminal Court President...",
  "key_points": [
    "US sanctions ICC President Tomoko Akane for politicized investigations.",
    "Sanctions aim to pressure ICC over Israel war investigations.",
    "US accuses ICC of being corrupt and politicized."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}