ICC rejects new US sanctions against 4 personnel

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected the new sanctions announced by the United States on Wednesday which targets four of its personnel.

Sanctions are directed at Judge Kimberly Prost Canada and Nicolas Guillouu from France, as well as two representatives of prosecutors: Nazhat Shameem Khan from Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang.

These steps follow previous sanctions against four other judges and ICC prosecutors.

The United Nations emphasized the important role of ICC in international criminal courts and expressed concern over the imposition of further sanctions.

“The decision imposed severe obstacles to the function of the prosecutor’s office and respected all situations that are currently before the court,” UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told journalists in New York.

“Judicial independence is a fundamental principle that must be respected, and these types of actions damage the foundation of international justice.”

Also read: ICC Sentences for Former Militia Leaders for War Crimes

In a statement that announced new sanctions, the US State Secretary, Marco Rubio, described the ICC as a “national security threat that has become an instrument for law” to the US and his close allies, Israel.

The UN -supported court condemned the sanctions as “a striking attack on the independence of the judicial institution that was impartial.”

The court further states that sanctions “are insulting court countries, international orders based on rules, and, above all, millions of innocent victims throughout the world.”

ICC investigates the biggest crime that is of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression crimes.

Founded under the 1998 Roman Statute Agreement, which came into force in 2002.

Both the US and Israel are not among the 125 states in the agreement.