U.S. Sanctions Against ICC Officials Widely Criticised

The international community has bashed U.S. sanctions against some International Criminal Court (ICC) officials investigating possible war crimes committed by U.S. Forces in Afghanistan.

The White House said last Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump has authorised economic sanctions against ICC officials “directly engaged with any effort to investigate or prosecute United States personnel without the consent of the United States,” as well as the expansion of visa restrictions against these officials and their family members.

Later last Thursday, the ICC said in a statement that the U.S. attacks “constitute an escalation and an unacceptable attempt to interfere with the rule of law and the Court’s judicial proceedings.”

Noting that the U.S. sanctions represent “an attack against the interests of victims of atrocity crimes, for many of whom the Court represents the last hope for justice,” the ICC, which has 123 member states, vowed it would stand firmly by its staff and remain “unwavering in its commitment to discharging, independently and impartially, the mandate bestowed upon it by the Rome Statute and the States that are party to it.”

The United Nations (UN) human rights office said last Friday that it is deeply concerned over the United States’ planned sanctions.

“The independence of the ICC and its ability to operate without interference must be guaranteed so that it can decide matters without any improper influence, inducement, pressures, threats or interference, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reasons,” Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said.