ICC says US sanctions 'flagrant attack' on court independence

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a strong rebuke on Wednesday following the United States government's decision to impose sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane. The ICC characterized the punitive measures enacted by Washington as a "flagrant attack" on the judicial independence of the international tribunal.

The sanctions specifically target Akane, a Japanese national serving as the head of the court, alongside a trial law. This diplomatic and financial confrontation underscores the ongoing tensions between the United States and the international body regarding accountability and jurisdiction.