The International Criminal Court is under pressure and attack.
This statement was made by the President of the Court Tomoko Akane, Ukrinform reports.
‘The court is under attack to undermine its legitimacy and ability to administer justice and implement international law and fundamental rights,’ Akane said.
The ICC President said that the Court is being threatened with ‘economic sanctions from the institutions of another permanent member of the Security Council, as if the Court were a terrorist organisation’.
‘These measures would quickly undermine the Court's ability to operate in all situations and cases and threaten its very existence. We strongly reject any attempt to influence the Court's independence and impartiality. We strongly reject attempts to politicise our function. We will always and in all cases uphold only the law. We believe it is wrong that some states and individuals are outraged when independent judges rule in accordance with the evidence and the law,’ Akane said.
- As you know, in the summer, the US House of Representatives approved a bill that proposes to impose sanctions against officials of the International Criminal Court because it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.
- In addition, this month, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow arrested ICC judge Haykel Ben Mahfoudh in absentia.