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الوسم: ICC

  • ICC Members Reject Prosecutor Karim Khan: Sources

    ICC Members Reject Prosecutor Karim Khan: Sources

    Members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted on Friday to dismiss Karim Khan as the prosecutor amid allegations of sexual misconduct, according to two diplomatic sources. These sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, stated that 82 out of the court’s 125 member states cast ballots in favor of removing Khan.

    Khan, who is 56 years old, firmly denies any misconduct. His legal team has criticized the process that led to the vote, labeling it “unlawful,” procedurally unfair, and lacking sufficient evidence.

    The decision to dismiss Khan comes shortly after the United States announced plans to intensify efforts to weaken the ICC, claiming the tribunal poses a threat to U.S. sovereignty. Last month, oversight authorities within the court concluded that Khan had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a junior ICC lawyer and recommended his termination. That conclusion was largely reflected in the recent vote at the United Nations in New York.

    During a visit to the Philippines on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the ICC, referring to some individuals involved as “lunatics” and “crazies.” He reaffirmed that no U.S. government or military officials would ever face trial at the court, echoing previous critiques. The U.S., which is not a member of the ICC, has already imposed sanctions on 11 court judges and prosecutors—including Karim Khan—citing arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and a past investigation into U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

    The woman who accused Khan spoke publicly for the first time last week in an interview with CNN, reiterating her claims that Khan engaged in a non-consensual sexual relationship with her. Khan’s attorneys responded to Reuters that he denies “any sexual relationship of any kind” with the staff member.

    Following Khan’s removal, a process will commence to elect a new ICC prosecutor, though a replacement is not expected to be appointed before next year. Despite Khan’s dismissal, any existing ICC warrants will stay in effect, as only ICC judges have the authority to revoke them.

  • Trump Admin Launches Campaign to Block International Criminal Court

    Trump Admin Launches Campaign to Block International Criminal Court

    The exterior of the International Criminal Court (ICC) can be seen in The Hague, Netherlands, as the U.S. considers imposing sanctions as early as this week against the entire court, according to Reuters on September 22, 2025.

    Rubio claims the ICC and its allies are waging a war against the United States. A State Department official stated that various options regarding the ICC are currently under review, emphasizing that no diplomatic measure is off the table.

    The Trump administration is actively working to dismantle what it views as a threat to U.S. sovereignty posed by the ICC, confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday. Historically, President Donald Trump and other leaders like former President George W. Bush have argued that the ICC should not have authority to investigate or prosecute Americans, especially military personnel.

    Reuters reports that the Trump administration supported sanctions against ICC officials partly to prevent future efforts to hold Trump or his associates accountable for U.S. military actions abroad. In a video message, Rubio explained that while the ICC was originally meant to prosecute only severe crimes like genocide and war crimes, it has evolved into a more radical and extreme entity. He made it clear that the U.S. would not allow the court to threaten its personnel.

    A State Department official, speaking anonymously, revealed that a broad array of measures, including travel bans, visa cancellations, expanded sanctions against the ICC and its affiliates, and diplomatic efforts to persuade other countries to leave the court, are being considered.

    “The United States will not rule out any diplomatic option in its effort to neutralize the threat the ICC poses to Americans,” the department affirmed.

    The ICC spokesperson, Oriane Maillet, stated that the court would not comment on these developments at this time.

    Established in 2002 by the international community, the ICC prosecutes war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. Its jurisdiction applies only when a member state cannot or will not prosecute atrocities. The U.S. has never been a member, but the ICC’s statute also permits it to prosecute crimes committed on the territory of member states by individuals from non-member countries.

    Trump’s opposition to the court dates back to his first term and intensified after the court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, an ally of Trump, in November 2024. Last month, three ICC judges sued Trump and his administration over sanctions imposed last year, claiming those measures were unlawful.

    In an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal, Rubio highlighted concerns about activists and others calling for the ICC to prosecute U.S. personnel over issues like migrant deportations and military strikes that allegedly involved illicit activity.

    “As we speak, the ICC and its allies are waging a war against our nation—not with guns or bombs, but through statutes, treaties, and the power of so-called international law,” Rubio said. He warned that U.S. Border Patrol agents, Marines, and terrorism prosecutors could face prosecution by the court.

    Recently, the ICC has refrained from investigating U.S. personnel. In March 2020, prosecutors opened an investigation into possible crimes by U.S. troops in Afghanistan, but since 2021, the focus shifted away from the U.S., concentrating instead on crimes by Afghan government forces and the Taliban.

    The official from the State Department stated that Rubio and other senior U.S. officials are pressuring other countries to diplomatically isolate the ICC, preventing it from targeting Americans. Countries allied with U.S. law enforcement, hosting U.S. military bases, or benefiting from U.S. security support are being urged to reject the ICC’s authority over American officials and personnel.

    Countries that continue to rely on U.S. assistance while refusing to reject the ICC are expected to face increased scrutiny.

    “We’re watching closely to see which nations stand with us against this threat to Americans risking their lives in service of others,” the official added.

  • Gunfire erupts during Philippine Senate standoff over ICC suspect

    Gunfire erupted at the Philippine Senate on Wednesday, prompting people to seek cover after a prominent politician wanted by the International Criminal Court claimed his arrest was imminent and security forces entered the building.

    No immediate injuries or casualties were reported, according to Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza, who spoke to reporters after the chaos inside the legislative chamber in Manila.

    Senator Ronald dela Rosa, a former police chief known for enforcing former President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-drug campaign, had earlier called on supporters to mobilize to prevent his arrest and extradition to the ICC.

    The Hague-based court unsealed an arrest warrant for dela Rosa on Monday, charging him with crimes against humanity — the same accusations levelled against 81-year-old Duterte, who is currently awaiting trial after being transferred there last year.

    Dela Rosa, 64, has denied any involvement in illegal killings.

    “I am asking for your help. Please do not allow another Filipino to be taken to The Hague,” he said in a Facebook video from his Senate office, where he has taken refuge under legislative protection since Monday.

    Senate Secretary Mendoza stated that law enforcement officials, believed to be from the National Bureau of Investigation, had attempted to enter the Senate and reportedly fired shots as they retreated.

    However, NBI Director Melvin Matibag told GMA News that no agents had been dispatched, stating, “I spoke to the justice minister, and he told me to wait for further instructions. We aren’t prepared for any operation at this time.”

    Over ten military personnel dressed in camouflage and carrying assault rifles arrived at the scene, witnesses from Reuters observed.

    The military’s public affairs chief, Xerxes Trinidad, mentioned that the Senate had requested assistance to help secure the premises.

    Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla said it remains unclear who shot the guns and that authorities would review security footage. He reassured dela Rosa’s safety and confirmed that no arrests were planned.

    Dela Rosa, once Duterte’s top lieutenant responsible for overseeing a brutal crackdown that resulted in thousands of deaths, has fought against the charges, which rights groups claim involve systematic murders and cover-ups by police.

    Police assert that all over 6,000 casualties in anti-drug operations were armed and resisted arrest.

    Activists argue that the true number may never be known, citing daily shootings of drug users and small-time peddlers in impoverished neighborhoods, often blamed on vigilantes and gang conflicts.

    Throughout Wednesday, the Senate was tightly guarded, with police positioned to maintain order amid protests demanding dela Rosa’s arrest. Many protesters also called for him to be handed over to the ICC.

    Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said he discussed the situation with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who assured him that no government officials were involved in Wednesday’s incident.

    Dela Rosa returned to the Senate Monday for the first time since going into hiding last November, urging Marcos not to extradite him to the ICC. He has also filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court to prevent his transfer, which the court acknowledged, giving all parties involved 72 hours to respond.

    Dela Rosa claims any transfer would be illegal because the Philippines no longer adheres to the Rome Statute after Duterte unilaterally withdrew from the ICC in 2018, shortly after the court announced an initial review of his anti-drugs campaign. The ICC maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed while a country was a member.

    Duterte, who faces potential trial at the ICC—making him the first Asian former head of state in that position—has publicly challenged the court, declaring he’s willing to “rot in jail” to protect his nation from drug-related violence. His legal team continues to deny the allegations against him.

  • ICC Pursues Arrest of Taliban Leaders for Women’s Rights Violations

    ICC Pursues Arrest of Taliban Leaders for Women’s Rights Violations

    Here’s a unique rewrite of your content in American English:

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    Taliban soldiers commemorate the second anniversary of the fall of Kabul near the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 15, 2023. — Reuters

    • Arrest warrants have been issued for top Taliban officials in Afghanistan.
    • ICC judges criticize the Taliban for violating women’s fundamental rights.
    • The court claims these alleged crimes occurred after the Taliban regained control.

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Tuesday that it has issued arrest warrants for high-ranking Taliban leaders in Afghanistan over the persecution of women, which is categorized as a crime against humanity.

    According to a statement from the ICC judges, there are “reasonable grounds” to suspect that Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani have committed the crime of persecution on the basis of gender.

    “Although the Taliban have imposed various regulations on the entire population, there has been a specific focus on targeting girls and women due to their gender, denying them fundamental rights and freedoms,” the court remarked.

    The court noted that these alleged crimes took place between August 15, 2021—when the Taliban took control—and are believed to have continued through at least January 20, 2025.

    The Taliban have “severely restricted” the rights of girls and women regarding education, privacy, and family life, as well as freedoms related to movement, expression, thought, conscience, and religion, according to ICC judges.

    Furthermore, the court stated that individuals were also targeted for expressing certain aspects of sexual orientation or gender identity that contradicted the Taliban’s policies on gender.

    Headquartered in The Hague, the ICC was established to address the most serious global crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    The ICC does not have its own police force and depends on member states to enforce its arrest warrants, which has had varying degrees of success.

    In theory, this means that anyone subject to an ICC arrest warrant should avoid visiting any member state to prevent arrest.

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    This rewrite maintains the essential information while altering the phrasing and structure to create a unique version.