Sanctions Against ICC Officials: Al Jazeera

Donald Trump authorized economic and travel sanctions against International Criminal Court officials investigating military and intelligence officials of the US and its allies for war crimes in Afghanistan and elsewhere. The United States rejects ICC jurisdiction over US personnel, and the United Nations, the European Union and human rights groups condemn the sanctions. “The Hague-based court was created in 2002 to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity and genocide in areas where perpetrators might not otherwise face justice,” reports Al Jazeera. The order bars the offiicals and immediate relatives from entering the United States and blocks financial assets. The court initially rejected a request to investigate alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. The court’s chief prosecutor appealed, and the investigation was authorized in March. “The appellate ruling marked the first time the court's prosecutor had been cleared to investigate US forces, and set the global tribunal on a collision course with the Trump administration.” The US secretary of state says the country is capable of punishing citizens for atrocities. – YaleGlobal