THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Europe: The International Criminal Court condemned US ICC sanctions against two senior officials, saying the measures undermine judicial independence and threaten the international legal order.
Washington targeted ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye.
An ICC spokesperson said threats against judges for applying the law put the wider international legal system at risk. However, the court said the sanctions would not stop its work.
The ICC said it would support its staff and continue carrying out its mandate. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the measures in a State Department statement.
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Rubio said Washington sanctioned Akane and Seye for their roles in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute officials from countries that do not recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction.
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He also accused the court of exceeding its mandate and abusing its authority. The dispute centres on the ICC’s attempts to exercise jurisdiction over nationals of states that reject the court’s authority.
