Nobel Peace Prize laureate Pillay condemns U.S. sanctions on ICC as ‘unprecedented and unacceptable’

[Financial News] Navi Pillay, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a former judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), condemned U.S. sanctions on the ICC as “unprecedented and unacceptable.”
According to the British broadcaster BBC on the 10th (local time), Pillay said, “There is enormous tension and anxiety surrounding the continued existence of international courts, including the International Criminal Court in The Hague.” She went on to criticize the move, saying, “What is most important is that one country (the United States) announced sanctions against judges because of judicial orders they had issued.”
The Norwegian Nobel Committee named Pillay this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate the day before, citing her “efforts to promote peace and international law.” It also praised her for having “led the way toward a more inclusive world legal order with exceptional courage and integrity.” The committee said she had played an important role in developing an international justice system that holds those responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide to account.
Shortly after the announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump vented his displeasure, calling it “a shameful and embarrassing affair, and an indelible stain on the country of Norway.” A pro-Trump figure also shared on Truth Social a post criticizing Pillay and the Nobel Committee. Trump has previously claimed that he resolved eight wars, openly revealing his ambition to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Several hours later, the Trump administration announced sanctions freezing the ICC’s assets in the United States and restricting transactions related to its operations, IT and pensions. The United States had already sanctioned 17 ICC judges and officials, but this time it sanctioned the court itself as an institution. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “President Trump will never allow the ICC to prosecute Americans,” adding, “We will prohibit dealings with a rogue court, block its resources and cripple its ability to operate.”
The ICC pushed back against the measure, calling it “an attack on the foundations of the rule of law and the international legal order.” U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called it “a serious blow to international criminal justice, of which the ICC is a core pillar.” The United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands also said they “regretted the move and strongly opposed it.”
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