An exterior view of the International Criminal Court is shown in The Hague, The Netherlands. Four human rights groups are suing the Trump administration over “crippling” sanctions on judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court. File Photo by Robin Utrecht/EPA-EFE
Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Four human rights groups sued the Trump administration Tuesday over "crippling" sanctions on judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court, saying the executive order is unconstitutional and punishes those doing important human rights work.
The American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights Watch and the Open Society Institute filed the lawsuit Tuesday in federal court.
The groups said the sanctions against ICC prosecutors and judges, a U.N. human rights expert and three Palestinian human rights groups undermine "access to justice for victims of serious international crimes around the globe and prevents civil society from working together to combat impunity." They said the sanctions are "a blatantly illegal attack on international justice."
In February 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that imposed the sanctions on some of those affiliated with the ICC after the body called for investigations into the Israeli government's military actions in Gaza. The court investigates war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
