Akane, 70, recently stated in a declaration published by Bungei Shunju on social media platform X, "The sanctions targeting me were somewhat anticipated, so I am not surprised." She emphasized the importance of preventing this incident from initiating "the collapse of the spirit of international rule of law."

This marks the first public response from Akane, a Japanese national, since she and Abdoulaye Seye, a Senegalese senior trial lawyer at the International Criminal Court (ICC), were sanctioned by the US on 18/8. The sanctions forbid Akane and Seye from entering the US and block all transactions within the US financial system.

The US action is part of a campaign by the Donald Trump administration targeting the ICC. The administration has described the organization as "corrupt and severely politicized."

International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane at a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, in 2024. Photo: AFP

On 19/8, the ICC condemned the US measures as a "blatant attack" on the court's independence.

Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21/8 expressed deep regret over the US decision to impose sanctions on President Akane and lawyer Seye. The Ministry affirmed, "Japan consistently supports the ICC, a permanent international criminal tribunal, in its efforts to prosecute and punish the most serious crimes of concern to the international community."

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk and senior European Union (EU) officials have also publicly supported Akane and the ICC.

Established in 2002, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of the most serious crimes. It serves as a court of last resort when national legal systems are unable to ensure accountability.

The US has previously imposed similar sanctions on some ICC officials. These actions primarily responded to ICC investigations into Israel, a US ally. In 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The US signed the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, but has not ratified the treaty. Israel, for its part, is not an ICC member.

By Vu Hoang (According to Reuters, AFP, AP)