Dr M slams ICC over 'double standards' in Duterte, Netanyahu cases

Summary

• Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad points out contradictions between the International Criminal Court's detention of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte and the lack of action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

• Mahathir says Netanyahu is accused of "more serious" crimes but can escape arrest due to power.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC) over supposed double standards in its actions against suspected criminals.

Mahathir drew a comparison between the ICC's arrest and subsequent detention of former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte as well as the apparent lack of action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"(Duterte's detention) is according to international law, but of course, it is only applicable when the person is not powerful enough to resist or deny the right of the ICC.

"Netanyahu (is) also a criminal and has been found to have committed more serious crimes (where) thousands of people have been killed.

"But the ICC is not able to do anything and has to see the crime being committed over and over again," Mahathir told reporters after a buka puasa event in Putrajaya last night.

While the ICC had issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu in November last year for alleged war crimes in Palestinian territories, he was reportedly able to visit the US last month.

He is also said to have plans to visit Hungary next month, marking his first visit to a European country since the ICC issued its arrest warrant against him and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant.

Duterte’s arrest

Duterte, however, was arrested on March 11 by Philippine authorities in Manila acting on an arrest warrant issued by the ICC.

Detained at the ICC Detention Centre in The Hague, Netherlands, Duterte is accused of crimes against humanity linked to his war on drugs.

It was previously reported that the Philippine Senate would be investigating Duterte's surrender to the ICC to establish whether due process was followed, following concerns about illegality and potential foreign intervention.

Yesterday, the office of the president of the Philippines, Malacanang, rejected claims that the country surrendered its sovereignty over Duterte's transfer to the ICC.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro explained that the government was acting under the Republic Act 9851, which grants authorities the power to surrender or extradite accused individuals in the Philippines to the appropriate international court.

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