The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) condemned the US for imposing sanctions on four International Criminal Court (ICC) judges. The court’s four judges are ICC Vice President Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou from Benin; Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa from Uganda; Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza from Peru; and Judge Beti Hohler from Slovenia.

The group said they were specifically targeted because of their decisions on war crimes involving the US and its allies. Judge Alapini-Hansou is among those who sat in the pre-trial chamber for Rodrigo Duterte; she also approved the issuance of warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the country’s former Minister of Defense.

“The sanctions against…ICC officials were authorized by Donald Trump through Executive Order No. 14203, which potentially covers thousands of others working or cooperating with the court. This includes people working on Duterte’s case—prosecutors, investigators, lawyers, witnesses, and so forth. They would not be able to travel to the US or maintain property there. This is at the least, inconvenient; at worst, disruptive and obstructive,” the NUPL said.

Recall that on June 5, the US State Department announced its imposition of sanctions against the four current ICC judges because of their investigation into cases filed against the US and Israel.

According to the State Department, Bossa and Ibáñez Carranza were sanctioned for their order to reopen the case of war crimes by American troops in Afghanistan, while Alapini and Hohler were sanctioned for allowing the ICC to issue warrants of arrest against Netanyahu and Gallant.

Previously, the US government targeted Kharim Khan, chief prosecutor of the ICC, in February, placing her on the list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person,” which bars her from entering the US and engaging in any American business.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) expressed regret over the imposition of sanctions against the four judges.

According to the ICC, targeting those working for accountability “does not help civilians trapped in conflict.” It only emboldens those who believe they can act with impunity.

These sanctions are not only directed at individuals, but also at those who support the court, including citizens and corporate entities of State Parties. “They are aimed against innocent civilians… as well as the rule of law, peace, and the prevention of the gravest crimes against humanity,” the ICC said.

Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, also condemned the US sanctions against the four judges.

“I am profoundly disturbed by the decision of the Government of the United States of America to sanction judges of the ICC. Attacks against judges for performance of their judicial functions, at national or international levels, run directly counter to respect for the rule of law and the equal protection of the law,” said Türk.

He called for the immediate reconsideration and withdrawal of the sanctions.