ICC Condemns US Sanctions on Judges and Prosecutors as Threat to Justice

The ICC has criticized the United States for imposing sanctions on its judges and prosecutors, calling the actions a significant threat to judicial independence and the global rule of law. The sanctions have sparked international backlash, including reinforcement from France, as tensions rise over the ICC's role in prosecuting alleged war crimes.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has expressed serious condemnation regarding new sanctions imposed by the United States on its judges and prosecutors. In a statement released on Wednesday, the US State Department announced the sanctions targeting two judges and two prosecutors involved in prosecuting alleged crimes committed by US and Israeli citizens, accusing the ICC of acting as an instrument for lawfare against the US and its ally, Israel.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced the ICC as a "national security threat," following a pattern of increased hostility towards the institution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced strong support for the US decision, particularly as the ICC has issued arrest warrants against him and former defense minister Yoav Gallant due to alleged war crimes during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

France joined the ICC in denouncing the sanctions, expressing "dismay" after one of its judges, Nicolas Guillou, found himself among those targeted. The penalized officials include Canadian judge Kimberly Prost, and deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan from Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang from Senegal. Rubio's statement criticized the ICC's alleged "politicization and abuse of power," claiming that these latest actions undermine the judicial system and serve selective interests.

The ICC maintained that the sanctions represent "a flagrant attack" on its independence and an affront to the global rules-based order. It also emphasized that such measures directly impact the court's capability to bring justice to millions of victims worldwide. The French government further condemned the sanctions, asserting that they contradict the fundamental principle of maintaining an independent judiciary.

Netanyahu hailed the US sanctions as a decisive action against what he termed an ongoing smear campaign against Israel. The accusations against ICC officials include, among others, actions related to the investigation of US military personnel in Afghanistan, as stated by the US State Department.

The implications of the sanctions restrict the besieged officials' access to any property or interests they possess in the United States. This is not the first instance of US sanctions targeting the ICC, as similar restrictions were previously placed on the court's chief prosecutor and additional judges earlier this year.

In the broader context, the UN's human rights chief has requested the US retract its sanctions on the ICC judges, claiming they contradict the essential tenets of the rule of law. This is compounded by the US's earlier sanctions on Francesca Albanese, a UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur and outspoken critic of Israel's military actions in Gaza, who also advocated for the ICC.

Albanese has firmly reiterated her support for the ICC, drawing from Italy's history of defending justice, and pledged to uphold the legacy of legal integrity and dedication to justice even amidst opposition.