The administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The move was met with a strong condemnation from the court, which described it as "an attack on the rule of law and the international legal system."
According to Reuters, the ICC has called on its 125 member states to defend the judicial institution's independence against the US sanctions. These sanctions are an escalation of previous pressure from Washington on the court. The U.S. had earlier imposed sanctions on several of the court's judges and prosecutors.
Tensions peaked after the ICC initiated investigations into alleged war crimes committed by American forces in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the court's efforts to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials over their actions in the Palestinian territories have also angered Washington.
The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court and does not recognize its jurisdiction to investigate American citizens. U.S. officials argue that the court infringes on American national sovereignty and that the U.S. judicial system is sufficient to handle such crimes.
In contrast, the ICC, established in 2002, acts as a court of last resort to prosecute individuals for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity when national governments are unable or unwilling to do so.
The sanctions could include freezing the assets of court officials held in the U.S. and imposing travel bans on them. Human rights advocates and many U.S. allies have criticized the move, viewing it as undermining international justice and efforts to hold perpetrators of serious human rights violations accountable worldwide.
The ICC has stressed that despite these pressures, it will continue to carry out its duties under the Rome Statute and will not compromise its independence.
Source: Reuters
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