ICC removes chief prosecutor Karim Khan over sexual misconduct

ICC removes chief prosecutor Karim Khan over sexual misconduct

Member state representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted on Friday to remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan from office. The decision follows a disciplinary process into allegations of sexual misconduct that first emerged nearly two years ago.

In an unprecedented move, 82 of the court's 125 member states voted in favor of the removal during a special closed-door meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, according to sources familiar with the result. This is the first time a chief prosecutor has ever been ousted from the tribunal.

The 56-year-old British barrister had been temporarily removed from his duties in June after the executive committee of the court's oversight body released a report finding he had committed serious misconduct. Documents seen by the AP indicate that Khan engaged in a sexual relationship with a female aide and attempted to prevent her from pursuing her allegations. Khan has consistently denied these claims and disputes the findings.

The vote occurred several hours ahead of schedule after a motion brought by Sierra Leone, which would have made it more difficult to oust Khan, failed. The vote was conducted by secret ballot. Norway, France, and the Netherlands—the court's host state—all publicly stated they voted for his removal.

"We believe it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that his conduct constituted sexual harassment and abuse of power,"

Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, Norway's deputy foreign minister, via AP

Khan was not present at the meeting in New York because he is barred from entering the US. This restriction follows sanctions imposed by the Trump administration over the ICC's investigations into Israeli officials.

Political Fallout and Divergent Views

The removal has sparked reactions across the international community, often tied to Khan's pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The ICC issued those warrants in November 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity following a request by Khan in May 2024.

Israeli officials welcomed the ouster. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar claimed Khan filed the warrants to deflect from the serious misconduct he feared would be revealed and described the warrants as politicized and outrageous. Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon added that Khan wrongly believed a political witch hunt against Israel would shield him from scrutiny.

However, other figures suggested the allegations were a targeted attack. Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote in Project Syndicate that the misconduct allegations served as the tip of the spear for enemies of Khan to start a debate about his removal. Conversely, Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, stated on social media that Khan lacked the moral authority and credibility to remain in his post.

Internal Strife and Institutional Challenges

The disciplinary process has caused splintering within the court's support base and staff. A group within the prosecutor's office wrote to the oversight body stating that Khan's leadership has been materially diminished.

Human rights organizations have also diverged. In June, the International Federation for Human Rights, Redress, and Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice argued that the victim had been instrumentalised and too readily dismissed as part of a political agenda. Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian organizations issued a letter last week accusing the executive committee of unwarranted political interference.

Khan has argued in interviews that the allegations are part of a conspiracy due to his investigations into Israel. In a CNN interview last week, the female staffer denied this claim. A UN investigation report seen by the AP noted that multiple credible witnesses dismissed the notion that she was a spy.

The removal comes as the 24-year-old tribunal faces a broader campaign by the United States to dismantle the ICC, with the Trump administration claiming the court challenges US sovereignty.