US-sanctioned International Criminal Court shortlisted for EU’s top rights prize

The International Criminal Court was shortlisted Monday for the European Union's Sakharov Prize, the EU's top human rights award. The European Parliament named the ICC among three finalists, alongside Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and Iranian twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi. The nomination comes as the US recently imposed sanctions on the ICC.

The International Criminal Court was shortlisted Monday for the European Union's Sakharov Prize, the EU's top human rights award. The European Parliament named the Netherlands-based tribunal among three finalists, alongside Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu and Iranian twin sisters Taraneh and Romina Rahimi. The prize, established in 1988 and named after Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded annually to individuals or organizations fighting for human rights or democracy. The nomination comes as the US recently imposed sanctions on the ICC, with the Trump administration vowing to dismantle the court over its arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a past investigation into US soldiers in Afghanistan. The ICC, founded in 2002, has 125 member states. The winner is to be selected this week ahead of the December awards ceremony.