<
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2026/may/24/former-international-criminal-court-prosecutor-calls-for-eu-statute-blocking-us-sanctions-on-icc-members>
"A former prosecutor at the international criminal court has called for an
EU-wide statute blocking what she describes as “thuggish” and “bullying” US
sanctions imposed on members of the court that are designed to send the court
into oblivion.
In February 2025, the US imposed sanctions on 11 ICC officials, including nine
judges and the chief prosecutor as well three Palestinian organisations, in
response to the ICC decision in 2024 to issue arrest warrants for members of
the Israeli cabinet, including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
The US sanctions – which include travel bans and asset freezes – have locked
judges out of the European financial system, making it impossible for them or
their families to live normal lives.
Fatou Bensouda, ICC prosecutor from 2012 to 2021, told a meeting in The Hague
of the Rights Forum, a prominent Dutch non-governmental organisation: “These
are coercive attempts to interfere with the independent exercise of judicial
and prosecutorial functions established under international law. If the
international community does not respond with seriousness, institutional
resolve and practical solidarity, the consequences will extend far beyond The
Hague.”
Without naming the US, she said: “To deploy such instruments against
prosecutors, judges or court officials who are engaged in judicial functions in
the pursuit of accountability for the most egregious crimes represents a
profound conceptual distortion.
“It is thuggish and inappropriate, and it should be called out for what it is.
It transforms disagreement with legal process into crippling economic coercion
to meet political ends. It is bullying, coercion and power politics through
other means.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
