THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court on Wednesday lashed out at the United States after Washington slapped sanctions on ICC President Tomoko Akane, who called 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 called a “corrupt and fatally politicized” body.

The measures barred them from entering the US and from carrying out transactions in the US financial system.

UN 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 wrote that the court “must be able to act independently and without external pressure.”

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

A spokesman for the French foreign ministry said “France condemns all threats and coercive measures against the court.”

Spain described the court as “the cornerstone of the international criminal justice system.”

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,........

© The Times of Israel