Sanctions against International Criminal Court 'appalling': UN human rights chief

WASHINGTON

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday condemned the imposition of sanctions and arrest warrants targeting judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

"The sanctions against the International Criminal Court are appalling. They are totally unacceptable, because they actually undermine a fundamental piece of the international system," Turk told the Council on Foreign Relations meeting.

His remarks came amid reports that the US is weighing imposing sanctions against the ICC as early as this week, a move that could severely disrupt the court’s daily operations in retaliation for its investigations into suspected Israeli war crimes.

While Washington has already targeted several ICC prosecutors and judges with sanctions, placing the court itself under sanctions would mark a significant escalation.

"By the way, it's not only the US; it's also the Russian Federation, because the Russian Federation has issued arrest warrants against judges," Turk said.

Turk criticized the lack of strong condemnation from UN member states, noting a worrying silence that could embolden further attacks on the court’s independence.

"And I really think that's extremely dangerous, and there needs to be a very strong reaction from member states," Turk added.