U.S. bars entry to International Criminal Court investigators
Pompeo, acting on a threat delivered in September by U.S. national security adviser John Bolton, framed the action as necessary to prevent the international body from infringing on U.S. sovereignty by prosecuting American forces or allies for torture or other war crimes.
The ICC and its supporters, including human rights groups that denounced Pompeo's announcement, argue that it is needed to prosecute cases when a country fails to do so or does an insufficient job of it. The Hague-based court, the first global tribunal for war crimes, said it would continue to operate"undeterred" by the U.S. action.
That comment suggested that action may have already been taken against the ICC prosecutor who asked last year to formally open an investigation into allegations of war crimes committed by Afghan national security forces, Taliban and Haqqani network militants, as well as U.S. forces and intelligence officials in Afghanistan since May 2003.
When President George W. Bush took office in 2001, his administration promoted and passed the American Service Members Protection Act, which sought to immunize U.S. troops from potential prosecution by the ICC. In 2002, Bolton, then a State Department official, traveled to New York to ceremonially"unsign" the Rome Statute at the United Nations.
"The court is an independent and impartial judicial institution crucial for ensuring accountability for the gravest crimes under international law," the statement said."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."Human Rights Watch called it"a thuggish attempt to penalize investigators" at the ICC.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump admin to ban entry of International Criminal Court investigatorsBREAKING: US will repeal or deny visas to International Criminal Court staff seeking to investigate Americans, and may take similar action to protect Israelis or other allied forces from prosecution, Sec. Pompeo says.
Read more »
U.S. imposes visa bans on International Criminal Court investigators - PompeoThe United States will withdraw or deny visas to any International Criminal Cour...
Read more »
U.S. to revoke visas of International Criminal Court members who investigate troopsSecretary of State Michael R. Pompeo announced the action against the International Criminal Court because of a case involving U.S. service members in Afghanistan.
Read more »
U.S. to impose visa bans on International Criminal Court personnel: PompeoThe Trump administration in September said that if the court launched a probe of war crimes in Afghanistan, it would consider banning ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the United States, sanctioning funds they have there and prosecuting them in U.S. courts. 'I'm announcing a policy of
Read more »
U.S. will not give visas to employees of the International Criminal CourtSecretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States will not allow the tribunal, based in The Hague, to investigate U.S. troops or those of allies like Israel.
Read more »
US to revoke visas for International Criminal Court staffSecretary of State Mike Pompeo says the U.S. will revoke or deny visas to International Criminal Court personnel who attempt to investigate alleged abuses committed by U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Read more »
U.S. to impose visa bans on International Criminal Court personnel: PompeoThe United States will impose visa restrictions on people responsible for any In...
Read more »
Pompeo: State Dept. bars war crimes court members from the U.S., citing torture probeThe visa restrictions are intended to get the International Criminal Court to drop its investigation into alleged torture in Afghanistan, Pompeo said.
Read more »