Rights Groups Sue Trump over ICC Sanctions

Four major US human rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration over its actions against the International Criminal Court (ICC). They argue that sanctions against ICC officials are unconstitutional and prevent them from cooperating in investigations into genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The lawsuit was filed in New York by Human Rights Watch, the Open Society Institute, the American Friends Service Committee and the Center for Constitutional Rights. Last year, Trump signed an executive order allowing sanctions against prosecutors, judges and others cooperating with the ICC in cases involving officials from the US and Israel. Neither country is a member of the court.

The organizations are calling for an end to the sanctions regime. According to their legal representative, it exceeds the president’s authority and violates both US and international law, including the rights to freedom of speech and religion.

Three ICC judges have also separately filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over the sanctions. Organizations dedicated to Palestinian rights are pursuing a similar legal challenge.

The US State Department says that the ICC threatens US sovereignty. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced a further intensification of pressure, including a diplomatic campaign aimed at persuading other states to withdraw from the court.

(Reuters, mja)