The European Parliament on Thursday awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to the International Criminal Court (ICC), signalling its opposition to US sanctions that threaten the court’s work.
The annual award recognises individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. Previous laureates include South African leader Nelson Mandela and Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny.
US President Donald Trump’s administration announced sanctions against the ICC on October 9, following repeated criticism of the court over its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and its investigation into the conduct of US troops in Afghanistan.
“This is a message of hope and resistance sent to Donald Trump. We will not abandon the rule of law and international justice. We will stand with the ICC for as long as necessary,” said French MEP Chloé Ridel, who nominated the court.
Parliament’s political group leaders selected the ICC over two other shortlisted nominees: Tanzanian lawyer Tundu Lissu, who faces political persecution, and Iranian sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi, nominated on behalf of people persecuted by Iranian authorities.
The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group proposed the ICC and its officials, with other political groups eventually backing the nomination. The decision surprised some insiders, who had expected Lissu to win.
Last week, MEPs from across the political spectrum urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to protect the court, based in the Netherlands, from US sanctions.
They called for the use of “all the instruments at our disposal,” particularly the EU Blocking Statute, which protects European companies and individuals from the effects of certain foreign sanctions.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the threat of sanctions against the ICC as “unacceptable” on October 9, reaffirming the bloc’s commitment to international law.
The European Union has yet to take concrete action.
