Weltführer watched skeptically in the ICC prison

Weltführer watched skeptically in the ICC prison

The dramatic arrest of the controversial former President of the Philippines in March caused a sensation worldwide and again attracted attention to other leaders who are sought by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

duterte and his arrest

Rodrigo Duterte, former President of the Philippines, was brought to the Netherlands to be held accountable for suspected crimes against humanity. For years, Duertte was the focus of the public because of his brutal drug fighting. Despite several examinations, during which he mocked the court and ordered him to "hurry", his arrest was surprising for many experts.

comparison to previous cases

Leila Sadat, professor of international criminal law, said: "There have already been other high -ranking personalities who were brought to court", including several former President of African countries. In many of these cases, the accused leaders were either loaded in front of the court or searched for a public supplementary detention, which is in stark contrast to Duterte's case in which the arrest warrant was secret and the arrest was carried out within a few hours.

a potential precedent

Duterte's arrest could create a precedent for future processes against other leaders sought by the court, including figures such as wladimir Putin and Benjamin netanyahu . Nevertheless, there are many political factors that can make a arrest extremely difficult.

The difficulties of international arrests

The ICC does not have its own police and is dependent on the cooperation of national governments in order to enforce arrest warrants - this often depends on domestic politics and political will. The member countries of the ICC, including Germany and many other European countries, have to enforce obligations and arrest warrants. In March 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant against Putin and the Russian civil servant Maria> Maria> Maria Lvova-Belova Because of an alleged plan for the deportation of Ukrainian children in Russia.

political complexity and resistance

The question of Putin's arrest is further complicated by his position as the acting head of state. According to Sadat, the chances that Putin will be arrested are extremely low as long as he has control over Russia. Nevertheless, the case shows that a arrest is possible, especially if a guide is no longer in office, and that the threat to the leader sought is not only theoretical.

Netanyahu and the conflict in Gaza

The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu in November 2024 due to alleged war crimes during the conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The previous legal steps against Netanyahu already create an internal policy pressure, since Israel is not a member of the ICC and do not recognize international arrest warrants.

an uncertain future for political leaders

Although many experts believe that the arrest of leaders like Duterte represents progress in international law, the implementation of such measures is often absent, especially in complex political landscapes such as in Israel or Russia, where different international layers meet.

The challenges of international criminal law

The ICC has been criticized for years about slow procedures and a low conviction rate. Of the 60 arrest warrants issued since their foundation, 31 suspects are still on the run. But while some votes express doubts, others believe that events such as the arrest of Dutertes could clear the way for a stronger responsibility of heads of state for international crimes.