The UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, condemned the sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling them a direct attack on the international justice system. She highlighted the inclusion of ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan on the U.S. sanctions list and its implications for the court’s work.

Satterthwaite emphasized that the ICC was established to uphold the rule of law in conflicts and acts of violence. She warned that sanctioning senior officials of an institution tasked with investigating serious international crimes undermines efforts to combat impunity and weakens the rule of law.

She also noted that the full impact of these sanctions will become more apparent in the coming months. Trump’s decision allows for severe penalties against court officials, including financial restrictions and visa limitations that could hinder their ability to perform their duties.

So far, only Karim Khan has been targeted, but the repercussions extend further. U.S. sanctions could freeze ICC-related financial transactions and prevent key officials from traveling or engaging with UN representatives, significantly affecting the court’s operations.