Life as an ICC judge sanctioned by Trump
4 days ago
- #international justice
- #ICC
- #US sanctions
- Judge Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza, a Peruvian ICC judge, was sanctioned by the Trump administration for her role in authorizing an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan involving the Taliban, Afghan forces, and US military/CIA personnel.
- The sanctions, which also targeted five other ICC judges, include freezing bank accounts, blocking travel to the US, and affecting family members, such as her daughter's visa cancellation.
- Despite the sanctions, Judge Ibanez and her colleagues remain resilient, emphasizing their commitment to justice for victims of international crimes and the independence of the ICC.
- The sanctions have practical impacts, such as difficulties with banking, digital services (Uber, Western Union), and travel, but the judges continue their work undeterred.
- The EU and Dutch authorities have shown solidarity, with some banks allowing limited access to funds, but Judge Ibanez calls for more concrete actions to counter US extraterritorial sanctions.
- Judge Ibanez highlights the broader implications of the sanctions, which aim to undermine the ICC's system of justice for vulnerable victims worldwide.
- Her prior experience prosecuting high-profile cases in Peru, including terrorism and human rights violations, has prepared her to face threats and attacks, viewing the sanctions as a testament to the ICC's significance.
- The ICC has issued arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders for gender-based persecution, while the US sanctions were imposed despite the ICC deprioritizing investigations involving US citizens in Afghanistan.