International Criminal Court condemns US sanctions on officials

The International Criminal Court has defended its staff sanctioned on Thursday by the United States for “targeting Americans.”

President of the Assembly of State Parties ASP O-Gon Kwon said the decision by the US Treasury to impose sanctions on Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda and other officials risks encouraging impunity across the globe.

“We stand by our Court and its staff as well as those cooperating with it in implementing its judicial mandate,” Mr Kwon, whose body is composed of representatives of member states and which makes laws for the court, said on Thursday.

“The court is an independent and impartial judicial institution. It operates in strict adherence to the provisions of the Rome Statute. The ICC is complementary to national jurisdictions and thus recognises the primary jurisdiction of States themselves. This is the cornerstone of the Statute.”

The ASP was expected to meet later on Friday to consider measures imposed by the US. But the decision by Washington began earlier in June when President Trump issued an executive order to bar ICC officials from setting foot in the US.

The US is not a member of the ICC, but it is a member of the UN Security Council which has powers to refer cases to the Court which is itself not a UN body. Created in 2001, it is supposed to try criminals involved human rights violations such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The US, however, says the court was targeting Americans and that Bensouda was aiding the motive.

“Today's designations make clear that the United States will not tolerate the International Criminal Court's reckless targeting of US personnel. America's commitment to real justice and accountability remains unwavering,” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday.

Ms Bensouda was listed alongside ICC’s Head of the Jurisdiction Complementarity and Cooperation Division, Phakiso Mochochok oas “specially designated nationals” which is often the same labelling reserved for drug traffickers and terror merchants unwelcome in the US. They are barred from setting foot in the US, both on personal and business trips, and cannot transanct with any American.

In June, the ICC’s appellate court had granted Bensouda permission to investigate potential war crimes by US soldiers in Afghanistan. The move came as the US pursued a mediation between Talibans and the Afghan government, to potentially end a two-decade war in which the US had sent soldiers.

The US has also been a strong defender of Israel against claims there might have been crimes against humanity in Palestine.