ISTANBUL
The International Criminal Court (ICC) president on Friday expressed “deep regret” over the US moving to impose sanctions on ICC officials, warning that the move threatens the court’s independence and undermines the pursuit of justice for victims of serious crimes.
In a statement, Judge Tomoko Akane said the US decision aims to “harm the Court’s independence and impartiality” and could deprive “millions of innocent victims of atrocities” of their right to justice.
She described the measure as part of a broader pattern of “unprecedented and escalatory attacks” designed to weaken the court’s ability to fulfill its mandate under international law.
“The ICC is a judicial body which performs functions that align with the interests of the international community by enforcing and promoting universally recognized rules of international law, including the law of armed conflicts and human rights law,” she said.
She emphasized that the court was established as a response to the immense suffering caused by wars, genocide, and other crimes against humanity.
“As atrocities continue to plague the globe affecting the lives of millions of innocent children, women, and men, the Court has become indispensable,” she said.
Akane rejected any attempt to interfere with the court’s independence or politicize its work, stressing that ICC judges and prosecutors operate strictly within the legal framework established by the Rome Statute.
“We have and always will comply only with the law, under all circumstances,” she said.
The top judge also urged the court’s 125 member states, civil society groups, and the broader international community to stand in solidarity against what she described as coercive measures.
“The ICC stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world,” she said.
