South African-born Navi Pillay, an ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) selected as this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, humorously reacted to the announcement on the 9th (local time), saying, “This must be a joke.”
According to BBC, CBS News, and other outlets, Judge Pillay expressed profound astonishment upon receiving the news while attending the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award forum in Germany.
A roughly three-minute video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, captured Pillay receiving applause from attendees and delivering her acceptance speech.
Expressing gratitude for the overwhelming applause, Judge Pillay remarked, “If you clap any more, I might have to share this prize with Trump.”
She continued, saying, “Your applause means a great deal because if the public doesn’t agree that ‘you deserve it,’ you wouldn’t want to receive the prize, so I am grateful.”
This remark is interpreted as a satirical jab at U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and shown strong ambitions for the accolade.
Judge Pillay also shared her joy in receiving the award alongside colleagues who have dedicated themselves to human rights protection. She stated, “It seems appropriate under the circumstances to be with friends and colleagues who support human rights.”
She also reflected on her recent investigation into human rights violations in Gaza. Serving as the chair of the UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, Pillay investigated alleged violations of international law during the conflict.
Pillay noted, “The last thing I did was report that what is happening in Gaza is genocide. The primary reaction to that report was a tribute to my courage, and it is startling why it takes courage to tell the truth.”
She emphasized, “All one needs to do is interpret the law, look at the facts, and make a fair decision.”
Turning 85 last month, Pillay addressed questions about her future, stating, “People keep asking me when I am going to stop, but I cannot stop helping achieve new milestones.” Concluding her acceptance speech, she added, “I hope this is not a joke, thank you.”
As a human rights lawyer from South Africa, Judge Pillay has dedicated her life to protecting international human rights and holding war criminals accountable. During the apartheid era in South Africa, she defended human rights activists, including former President Nelson Mandela. Later, she served as a judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and also as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Nobel Committee praised Pillay during the announcement, stating, “Pillay is one of the great defenders of our era’s international law principles.” The committee also voiced concerns over the erosion of the international legal order, pointing out a global shift from legal frameworks and justice toward “the politics of force.”
This is widely interpreted as a direct critique of the Donald Trump administration, which recently designated 13 ICC judges and prosecutors as sanction targets.
