ICC removes chief prosecutor Karim Khan after sexual misconduct vote
Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted at a special session in New York to dismiss chief prosecutor Karim Khan. In a secret ballot, 82 of the 125 states supported his removal, while 13 opposed and 15 abstained. The decision follows allegations that Khan engaged in a sexual relationship with a junior staff member, a Malaysian lawyer identified only as Sarah, who described escalating attempts that culminated in physical assault. Khan has consistently denied any wrongdoing and described the proceedings as politically motivated.
The ICC had suspended Khan in June after a report by its oversight body found “serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty.” The removal does not affect existing arrest warrants issued by the court, including those for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The vote underscores growing pressure on the court, amid parallel U.S. sanctions against ICC officials and claims that the United States seeks to dismantle the institution.
With the prosecutor’s post now vacant, the Assembly of States Parties will begin the process of electing a successor, a transition expected to take several months.