Nazhat Shameem Khan Reports ICC Staff Face Banking Hurdles Ahead of Sanctions Deadline

New US sanctions against the International Criminal Court are already affecting the daily lives of its employees, according to Nazhat Shameem Khan, the court's deputy prosecutor. The measures, which were not set to take effect until six months after their announcement, have caused friction in financial operations due to banks choosing to exercise caution.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on October 9, describing the ICC as a rogue court. He stated that the institution had a six-month window to negotiate a solution to Washington's concerns. Rubio issued a stark warning, declaring that either the ICC would end its threats or the US would end the ICC. It remains unclear what specific changes would satisfy the US government.

Khan, who is currently co-running the prosecutor's office while a new chief prosecutor is appointed, said the court has made substantial progress in its investigations. She noted that no new charges regarding the Gaza war have been announced since late 2024, when arrest warrants were issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant. Khan explained that the court recently ruled that all charges and warrant applications must remain secret until judges approve their public release.

She told The Guardian that the lack of public announcements does not mean the work has stopped. Khan said, "Even if we reach a stage of the investigations where it might be imminent, we may not discuss it publicly." She assured that there is significant progress in the Gaza situation and other active cases, despite the appearance of inactivity.

The banking difficulties are occurring even though the sanctions are technically not yet in force. Khan described banks as over-complying with regulations to minimize their own risk. She said, "In principle, our individual members should not be impacted directly," but acknowledged that many staff members are experiencing real difficulties with their accounts. The court is actively working to insulate itself from the measures by switching from Microsoft software to European alternatives and negotiating new terms for banking and health insurance services.

Khan, who was one of 13 staff members targeted by US sanctions in February 2025, noted the personal inconvenience of losing access to credit cards. She stated that life without a credit card is challenging, especially for travel, but emphasized that the issue is less critical for victims of mass atrocities who are simply seeking justice. She added that the court has not reduced its investigative capability or output based on the sanctions.

The prosecutor's office also faces internal challenges, including formal investigations into sexual harassment allegations against former chief prosecutor Karim Khan. The British jurist was removed from his position in July following a vote by member states. Additionally, the ICC registrar is negotiating with the European Union to block the sanctions or protect the court in other ways. On Thursday, the European Parliament awarded its Sakharov prize for freedom of thought to the court and its officials, a move Khan called an important message of support for her staff.