ICC top prosecutor removed over sexual misconduct allegations
Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have voted to remove Karim Khan from his position as chief prosecutor over allegations of sexual misconduct.
Khan, who became the ICC’s third chief prosecutor in 2021, had already been suspended last month. His dismissal was approved by 82 of the court’s 125 member states.
The decision follows findings by the court’s oversight body in June that Khan had committed serious misconduct by engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior staff member and attempting to prevent her from pursuing a formal complaint.
Khan has consistently denied the allegations. His lawyer said the former prosecutor intends to challenge the decision, arguing that the process was neither lawful nor fair, although it remains unclear what legal options are available.
Following the vote, the ICC acknowledged the decision taken by the Assembly of States Parties and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace for all employees.
The case has become one of the most significant crises in the court’s history, raising concerns about the ICC’s credibility and future effectiveness as the world’s only permanent tribunal for prosecuting genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Supporters of the court fear the controversy could weaken the institution at a time when it is already facing growing political pressure and attempts to undermine its authority.
A prominent British lawyer, Khan has been on voluntary leave since May 2025 while contesting the allegations. He also remains suspended from practising law in the United Kingdom as the Bar Standards Board conducts its own investigation.
He did not attend the vote at the United Nations headquarters in New York because he is barred from entering the United States under sanctions imposed by the Trump administration over the ICC’s investigation into alleged war crimes involving Israeli officials in Gaza.
The allegations first emerged in May 2024 when a third party reported claims of sexual misconduct involving a female staff member. Although the ICC’s Independent Oversight Mechanism initially investigated the matter, the case was closed after the complainant declined to participate.
The handling of that investigation drew criticism, with some questioning the oversight body’s procedures. Investigators later concluded there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims.
A second complaint was filed in October 2024, prompting the matter to be transferred to the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which carried out a broader investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of authority.
The inquiry, which ran from November 2024 to December 2025, produced more than 5,000 pages of evidence and witness testimony. A panel of three judges later reviewed the findings before advising on whether Khan’s conduct constituted serious misconduct.
The controversy has unfolded amid heightened political tensions surrounding the ICC.
The United States sanctioned Khan after he sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes connected to the war in Gaza.
Washington has also intensified its opposition to the ICC, recently launching what it described as a government-wide campaign to weaken the court through measures including visa restrictions, asset freezes and diplomatic efforts to discourage countries from recognising its jurisdiction.
Although the United States, Russia and Israel are not members of the ICC, the court can prosecute crimes committed by their nationals if they occur within the territory of an ICC member state.
Source: BBC
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