UNITED STATES SANCTIONS ON ICC JUDGES IS A HYPOCRITICAL AND DANGEROUS ATTACK ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE

MAPIM OFFICIAL STATEMENT

UNITED STATES SANCTIONS ON ICC JUDGES IS A HYPOCRITICAL AND DANGEROUS ATTACK ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE

6 JUNE 2025 | KUALA LUMPUR

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM) strongly condemns the decision by the United States government to impose sanctions on four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for executing their judicial duties in accordance with international law — namely, authorizing investigations and arrest warrants involving U.S. and Israeli nationals.

The four judges — Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza (Peru), Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou (Benin), and Beti Hohler (Slovenia) — have demonstrated unwavering commitment to justice by permitting investigations into U.S. military conduct in Afghanistan and approving arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, both accused of committing war crimes against the Palestinian people.

MAPIM asserts that the U.S. action is:

1. A blatant political threat to the independence of the international judiciary, undermining the very principles of rule of law and accountability that global justice is founded upon.
2. A flagrant display of hypocrisy, as the U.S. supports ICC action against its geopolitical adversaries (e.g., Russia), yet vehemently opposes it when the Court acts on credible allegations against the U.S. or its close ally, Israel.
3. An intentional move to shield war criminals, using coercive power to silence and punish those who seek to hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable.
4. A betrayal of international justice, allowing superpowers to operate above the law while victims of war crimes are denied their right to redress and dignity.

MAPIM warns that such actions by the U.S. severely erode the credibility of the international legal system and expose its manipulation by powerful states for political convenience, rather than universal justice.

MAPIM calls upon:

● The international community, including the United Nations, the OIC, the African Union, and ASEAN, to publicly denounce this abuse of power by the United States.

● All State Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to reaffirm their commitment to the Court’s independence and uphold its mandate without fear or favor.

● Civil society movements around the world to express solidarity with the sanctioned judges and continue to pressure for justice in the face of imperial impunity.

MAPIM reiterates its full support for the ICC and all efforts to bring perpetrators of war crimes — including those responsible for atrocities in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond — to justice.

Justice must never be compromised. No one, not even the leaders of powerful nations, should be above the law.

MOHD AZMI ABDUL HAMID
President
Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organization (MAPIM)