ICC says US sanctions ‘flagrant attack’ on court independence

Editor's ChoiceICC says US sanctions 'flagrant attack' on court independenceBy AFP -Aug 20, 2026Add ARY News on GoogleAAResizeThe Hague: The International Criminal Court on Wednesday lashed out at the United States after Washington slapped sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane, calling it a “flagrant attack” on the court’s independence. The US sanctioned Akane of Japan and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal on Tuesday, as part of Washington’s campaign against what it calls a “corrupt and fatally politicised” body. The measures bar them from entering the US and from carrying out transactions in the US financial system. The United Nations rights chief Volker Turk and the EU’s top officials threw their support behind Akane and her top officials. “Unacceptable new sanctions imposed by the USA against the International Criminal Court’s President and a prosecution staff member must be lifted,” said Turk. And in twin statements on X, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and European Council head Antonio Costa the court “must be able to act independently and without external pressure.” Germany’s foreign ministry also called the court’s independence “of central importance”; while the Netherlands, which hosts the court at The Hague, also voiced its disapproval. US rights groups sue Trump over ICC sanctions A spokesman for the French foreign ministry said “France condemns all threats and coercive measures against the court.” And Spain described the court as “the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system”. The court itself said in a statement: “These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.” “Such measures targeting judges, prosecutors and staff… undermine the rule of law.” – Japan objects – Washington’s latest move follows sanctions it imposed on several ICC officials, seen as largely in response to the court’s investigations involving Israel, a US ally. Japan also objected to t...