The International Criminal Court has denounced new US sanctions against two more of its judges and two prosecutors, calling them a “flagrant attack” on its independence.
The four include Judge Nicolas Guillou of France, who is presiding over a case in which an arrest warrant was issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost and deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan of Fiji and Mame Mandiaye Niang of Senegal were also hit.
Prost was involved in a case that authorized an investigation into alleged crimes committed during the war in Afghanistan, including by US forces.
“These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution,” the court said in a statement on Wednesday.
The ICC said it stood “firmly behind its personnel and victims of unimaginable atrocities”.
It said it would “continue fulfilling its mandates, undeterred” and “without regard to any restriction, pressure or threat”.
The #ICC strongly rejects new US sanctions against Judges and Deputy Prosecutors ⤵️ https://t.co/yasAu2G4W0
— Int’l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) August 20, 2025
Four other judges and the court’s prosecutor had already been placed under sanctions.
Undermining Int’l Justice
The UN also expressed concern over the US’ decision to impose new sanctions on ICC judges, warning that such measures “undermine the foundation of international justice.”
The UN “firmly believes that the ICC is a key pillar of international criminal justice,” spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a news conference after he was asked about Washington’s latest decision.
“We respect their work,” Dujarric said, highlighting that the UN is “very concerned about the decisions taken to further hit ICC officials with sanctions under the order that came out from the United States.”
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says the ICC is a key pillar of international justice and voices concern over new US sanctions imposed on its officials pic.twitter.com/jQ6Vm8ttWM
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) August 20, 2025
Earlier on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that two judges and two prosecutors were being added to a list of ICC members sanctioned by the administration of President Donald Trump.
“The Court is a national security threat that has been an instrument for lawfare against the United States and our close ally Israel,” Rubio said in a statement.
Source: Agencies
