JAKARTA – The Aqsa Working Group (AWG) condemned the United States government’s efforts to weaken the International Criminal Court (ICC) under the pretext of protecting its national sovereignty.
“This step constitutes political intervention in an international judicial institution and a serious threat to the international legal order,” said AWG Presidium Chairman Muhammad Anshorullah in a press release received in Jakarta on Thursday.
Anshorullah assessed that the US move was aimed at shielding Israel from international legal proceedings, especially after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense chief Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Palestine.
The AWG reiterated that genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and Israel’s apartheid policy against the Palestinian people must not be allowed to go unpunished.
“We reject all forms of sanctions, intimidation, visa restrictions, diplomatic pressure, or threats against judges, prosecutors, staff, and countries that support the ICC’s work. The independence of this international judicial institution must be protected from political pressure from major powers,” he said.
The AWG also urged member states of the Rome Statute to continue supporting the ICC and reject all forms of political or financial pressure on the institution.
“We urge the UN, OIC, Arab League, Non-Aligned Movement, African Union, and all countries to provide concrete support for the independence and sustainability of the ICC in combating global impunity,” Anshorullah emphasized.
He also hopes that the Indonesian government will continue to consistently support the process of enforcing international law for war crimes and genocide in Palestine, as well as strengthening international accountability through diplomatic channels, and considering membership in the Board of Peace (BoP).
“The AWG calls on all Muslims and the Indonesian people to continue strengthening solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, increasing humanitarian support, and intensifying the boycott movement against entities that support the Zionist Israeli occupation and genocide until Palestine is free and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is liberated,” he said.