- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced ICC sanctions targeting judges and officials on Tuesday, August 18.
- The sanctions specifically target Tomoko Akane and Abdoulaye Seye, freezing their assets and restricting their access to the US.
- This brings the number of ICC judges targeted by the US to 13, along with three Palestinian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.
- Rubio denounced the ICC as "a supranational court that is corrupt and deeply politicized, that has maliciously abused its authority and overstepped its mandate."
- He promised that American citizens "will never be deported overseas to stand trial for imaginary crimes."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on August 18 targeting ICC judges Tomoko Akane and Abdoulaye Seye, freezing their assets and restricting their access to the US.12
This action brings the total number of ICC judges sanctioned by the US to 13, alongside three Palestinian NGOs and UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese.3
Within 30 days, Seye and Akane will be barred from obtaining US visas, and their assets in the US will be frozen, limiting their internet and banking capabilities.
The ICC condemned the sanctions as a “blatant attack” on the international legal order, warning that “it is the international legal order itself that is being put at risk.” Rubio criticized the ICC as a “corrupt and deeply politicized”“will never be deported overseas to stand trial for imaginary crimes.”
The sanctions reflect ongoing tensions surrounding the ICC's investigations into alleged war crimes in Palestine, highlighting the contentious relationship between the US and international legal institutions.
“The sanctions, announced on August 18, target 13 ICC judges and include restrictions on their internet access and banking capabilities. Rubio denounced the ICC as "a supranational court that is corrupt and deeply politicized," asserting that American citizens "will never be deported overseas to stand trial for imaginary crimes."”
Le Monde.fr
