ICC Deputy: 13 Staff Faced Sanctions Months Before US Deadline
Nazhat Shameem Khan reports that bank accounts are already frozen as the court navigates a new six-month grace period imposed by Washington.
By Giulia Donovan ·
The International Criminal Court is already feeling the financial pressure of new American sanctions, even though the official deadline is six months away. Nazhat Shameem Khan, the deputy prosecutor, told The Guardian that staff are experiencing immediate banking difficulties.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the measures on October 9. He labeled the court a rogue institution and gave it until April to propose a solution. Khan said banks are over-complying to minimize risk, which is disrupting personal finance for employees. She noted that while the sanctions target the institution, individual staff members are bearing the brunt.
"These are sanctions imposed on the institutions and, in principle, our individual members should not be impacted directly," Khan said. "But again, what I am hearing from members of our staff is that some of them are experiencing difficulties in banking."
Khan is well acquainted with US restrictions. She was part of a group of 13 ICC staff members targeted in February 2025. She described the inconvenience of life without a credit card, noting how difficult travel and daily transactions have become. She contrasted this administrative friction with the reality on the ground, stating that for victims, such logistical hurdles are irrelevant.
Despite the external pressure, Khan insisted that the court has not reduced its operational capability. She reported that the investigation into the Gaza war has made substantial progress since November 2024. No new charges have been made public because the court ruled that warrant applications must remain secret until judges approve their release.
The court is actively working to insulate itself from the sanctions. It is switching its software from Microsoft to European alternatives and negotiating with service providers for banking and health insurance. Khan said the investigation into the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls remains a priority, with four arrest warrants unsealed this month.
The European Parliament awarded the court its Sakharov prize for freedom of thought on Thursday. Khan called this support a vital message for staff. The ICC registrar is currently negotiating with the EU to see if the union can block the sanctions or offer other forms of protection.
