THE HAGUE: The International Criminal Court on Wednesday lashed out at the United States after Washington slapped sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane, calling it a “flagrant attack” on the court’s independence.

The US sanctioned Akane of Japan and trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal on Tuesday, as part of Washington’s campaign against what it calls a “corrupt and fatally politicised” body. The United Nations rights chief Volker Turk and the EU’s top officials threw their support behind Akane and her top officials.

“Unacceptable new sanctions imposed by the USA against the International Cri­m­inal Court’s President and a prosecution staff member must be lifted,” said Turk.

And in twin statements on X, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and European Coun­cil head Antonio Cos­ta said the court “must be able to act independently and without external pressure.”

Germany’s foreign ministry also called the court’s independence “of central importance”; while the Netherlands, which hosts the court at The Hague, also voiced its disapproval.

Joining the chorus of condemnation, Spain described the court as “the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system”.

And the court itself said in a statement: “These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.”

“Such measures targeting judges, prosecutors and staff… undermine the rule of law.”

EU backs ICC

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa said they supported the International Criminal Court a day after the US imposed sanctions on the court’s president and a senior trial lawyer.

Both said in posts on X they stood “firmly with the ICC, President Tomoko Akane and the officials who uphold its mission”. ICC judges and officials must be able to work independently without external pressure, they said.

‘Unacceptable’ decision

The United Nations rights chief on Wednesday condemned the “unacceptable” US decision to slap fresh sanctions on International Criminal Court officials, urging countries to protect court officials against such “reprisals”. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk joined a chorus of criticism against the latest move.

“Unacceptable new sanctions imposed by the USA against the International Criminal Court’s President and a prosecution staff member must be lifted,” his office said on X.

Turk renewed his “calls on States to stand in defence of the institutions they have created to uphold and defend human rights and the rule of law”. And he urged countries “to protect court officials targeted by such reprisals”.

Japan objects

Washington’s latest move follows sanctions it imposed on several ICC officials, seen as largely in response to the court’s investigations involving Israel, a US ally. Japan also objected to the sanctions, saying the country has “consistently supported the ICC… in its efforts to prosecute and punish the most serious crimes of concern to the international community and to uphold the rule of law.”

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2026