ACLU Comment on Trump ICC Sanctions Order

WASHINGTON — President Trump today issued an executive order authorizing economic sanctions and travel restrictions against International Criminal Court personnel and their families for investigating United States’ war crimes in Afghanistan.

Below is comment from Hina Shamsi, director of the ACLU’s National Security Project, in response:

“President Trump is grossly abusing emergency powers to block one of the only avenues left for justice to victims of terrible American human rights violations. He has repeatedly bullied international organizations, and is now playing directly into the hands of authoritarian regimes by intimidating judges and prosecutors committed to holding countries accountable for war crimes.

“Trump’s sanctions order against ICC personnel and their families — some of whom could be American citizens — is a dangerous display of his contempt for human rights and those working to uphold them. We are exploring all options in response.”