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International Criminal Court hits back at ‘unprecedented’ and ‘unacceptable’ US attacks

THE International Criminal Court (ICC) condemned sanctions imposed by the US on its court’s prosecutor and a member of her office as “unprecedented” yesterday.

It warned that the latest measures announced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday were “another attempt” to interfere with its work in addressing grave crimes and humanitarian atrocities.

“These coercive acts, directed at an international judicial institution and its civil servants, are unprecedented and constitute serious attacks against the court, the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice and the rule of law more generally.”

Mr Pompeo has sought to block the ICC from investigating potential war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by US forces in Afghanistan following the 2001 invasion and subsequent occupation.

He told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday: “The United States never ratified the Rome Statute, which created that court, and we don’t tolerate illegitimate attempts to submit US citizens to its jurisdiction.”

Washington also objects to ICC investigations into atrocities committed by Israeli occupying forces in the Palestinian territories.

Last year the US revoked the visa of chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, blocking her from entering the country in response to the Afghanistan investigations.

In June President Donald Trump signed an executive order authorising sanctions on ICC officials who investigate the actions of US troops or those of its allies. 

President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the management and legislative body of the ICC, O-Gon Kwon hit out at the sanctions calling them “unprecedented and unacceptable measures.”

“They only serve to weaken our common endeavour to fight impunity for mass atrocities,” he said.

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