US returns Palestinian rights expert Francesca Albanese to sanctions list | United Nations News | Al Jazeera
The lawsuit also accused the Trump administration of trying to intimidate those who speak out against Israeli rights abuses.
Albanese is not alone in facing economic penalties for her work. Since taking office for a second term, Trump is estimated to have issued sanctions against nine ICC judges, as well as prosecutors for the court.
The judges and prosecutors were reportedly involved in probes into abuses by US and Israeli forces.
On May 13, US District Judge Richard Leon, an appointee of former President George W Bush, ruled in favour of the Albanese family’s lawsuit, granting a temporary injunction against the sanctions.
Leon found that the Trump administration had used the penalties to curtail Albanese’s constitutionally protected speech. He also stated that Albanese could not be blamed for the ICC’s actions.
“It is undisputed that her recommendations have no binding effect on the ICC’s actions,” Leon wrote. “They are nothing more than her opinion.”
As a result of the ruling, Albanese was removed from the sanctions list this month.
But the Trump administration appealed Leon’s order. It also said it would restore her to the sanctions list as soon as it was able, though it is unclear what prompted Wednesday’s change.