ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan Suspended for Misconduct

Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, faces suspension following a determination of serious misconduct and dereliction of duty by the court's 21-member administrative body. The decision, announced Monday evening, means Khan's future at the ICC now rests with the 125 member states, who will vote on his potential dismissal. A simple majority of 63 votes is required to remove him from office, and a meeting will be convened "as soon as possible" to hold this vote.

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sooner rather than later

The suspension comes more than two years after allegations of sexual misconduct first surfaced. In late April 2024, a close colleague of Khan, a 39-year-year-old lawyer, confided in others, leading to a report to human resources. The United Nations launched an investigation into these claims in late 2024, which lasted over a year. Khan has consistently and "categorically" denied the allegations.

During the UN investigation, Khan temporarily stepped back in May 2025. However, the situation became more complex when Khan sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in May 2024. The abuse allegations became intertwined with the arrest warrants, with Israel and the United States reportedly using the misconduct case to cast doubt on Khan and the ICC. The woman who accused Khan was allegedly portrayed as an Israeli spy who lured him into a trap. Khan himself suggested a connection, speaking in interviews about an "orchestrated campaign" to remove him due to dissatisfaction with the arrest warrants for Netanyahu.

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categorically denies

An investigation by NRC Handelsblad last year, which included interviews with colleagues, family, and friends of the accuser, found that their accounts, photos, and documents supported the allegations. The newspaper also reported that ICC staff pressured the woman not to file a complaint. A second woman came forward in the summer of 2025 with similar accusations of sexual misconduct against Khan.

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orchestrated campaign

The ICC has struggled to handle the case, as no clear procedure existed for member states to vote on the dismissal of a chief prosecutor. The role of chief prosecutor is crucial, representing the court externally and setting case priorities. The ICC statute requires the prosecutor to be of "high moral character." The court's president stated last year that the ICC has a "zero-tolerance policy" for prohibited conduct, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse of power. Unrest has grown within the court in recent months, with sensitive information leaking to the media.

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zero tolerance policy