The US has revoked the entry visa for prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda for investigating alleged war crimes by American forces in Afghanistan.
This comes after a 2016 report by ICC which allegedly stated that the US military had committed torture at secret detention sites in Afghanistan operated by the CIA. The same report also stated that the Afghan government and the Taliban had committed war crimes.
US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo warned that the government is prepared to take additional steps including economic sanctions if the ICC does not change its course.
“If you’re responsible for the proposed ICC investigation of US personnel in connection with the situation in Afghanistan, you should not assume that you will still have or get a visa, or that you will be permitted to enter the United States,” said Pompeo.
ICC remained unfazed and said the ICC prosecutor would continue to her discharge duties “without fear or favour”.
The USA, China, India, and Russia are among countries which have not yet joined the ICC.
