International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda’s Entry Visa To The United States Revoked

International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda’s Entry Visa To The United States Revoked

United States authorities revoked International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda‘s entry visa to the United States.

“It is our understanding that should not have an impact on the
Prosecutor’s travel to the US to meet her obligations to the UN,
including regular briefings before the UN Security Council. The Office
of the Prosecutor has an independent and impartial mandate under the
Rome Statute of the ICC. The Prosecutor and her Office will continue to
undertake that statutory duty with utmost commitment and
professionalism, without fear or favor,” her office said in a
statement. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in mid-March that the US
would revoke or deny visas to ICC personnel a move meant to deter a
potential investigation by the Hague-based judicial body into alleged
war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by US troops in
Afghanistan.

Pompeo said the restrictions apply to “persons who take or have taken
action to request or further such an investigation.” Pompeo also warned
about potential economic sanctions “if the ICC does not change its
course.”

The US is not a member of the ICC. In November 2017, Bensouda sought
authorization to open an investigation into crimes connected to the
conflict in Afghanistan. According to a statement from the time,
Bensouda’s office “determined that there is a reasonable basis to
believe” that members of the US armed forces and the CIA committed “war
crimes.”

The ICC has not yet made a decision on whether to authorize that
investigation. Pompeo slammed the potential investigation an example of
“politically motivated prosecutions of Americans. The first and highest
obligation of our government is to protect its citizens and this
administration will carry out that duty,” Pompeo said at the time.

The secretary of state also warned in March that “these visa
restrictions may also be used to deter ICC efforts to pursed allied
personnel including Israelis without allies’ consent.” The Palestinians
have asked the ICC to investigate Israel for alleged human rights
abuses.