The United States has announced it will revoke or deny visas to members of the International Criminal Court involved in investigating the actions of US troops in Afghanistan or other countries.
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said Washington was prepared to take further steps, including economic sanctions, if the war crimes court goes ahead with any investigations of US or allied personnel. “I’m announcing a policy of US visa restrictions on those individuals directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel,” he said. The secretary of state said visas could also be withheld from ICC personnel involved in conducting probes of US allies, specifically Israel. “We’re prepared to take additional steps, including economic sanctions, if the ICC does not change its course.”
The ICC reacted swiftly to Pompeo’s remarks.
“The ICC, as a court of law, will continue to do its independent work, undeterred, in accordance with its mandate and the overarching principle of the rule of law.” the ICC said.
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said Washington was prepared to take further steps, including economic sanctions, if the war crimes court goes ahead with any investigations of US or allied personnel. “I’m announcing a policy of US visa restrictions on those individuals directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel,” he said. The secretary of state said visas could also be withheld from ICC personnel involved in conducting probes of US allies, specifically Israel. “We’re prepared to take additional steps, including economic sanctions, if the ICC does not change its course.”
The ICC reacted swiftly to Pompeo’s remarks.
“The ICC, as a court of law, will continue to do its independent work, undeterred, in accordance with its mandate and the overarching principle of the rule of law.” the ICC said.
James Goldston, the executive director of the Open Society Justice Initiative, said Pompeo’s remarks reflected the administration’s view that international law matters “only when it is aligned with US national interests. Attacking international judicial actors for doing their jobs undermines global efforts to hold to account those most responsible for atrocity crimes such as torture and mass murder,” Goldston said.
For what reason are they attacking those people who are initiating examination or arraigning claimed manhandles committed by US personnel by denying their visa. I believe there's nothing wrong with what are they doing as long they're following the right procedure and won't hurt anybody.
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