The International Criminal Court’s member states are scheduled to vote on the removal of Prosecutor Karim Khan following sexual misconduct allegations against him. Khan, a 56-year-old barrister, has been suspended from his official duties pending the outcome. The vote requires an absolute majority of at least 63 of the court’s 125 member states to proceed with his dismissal through secret ballot.
The allegations center on Khan’s treatment of a junior colleague who worked as his direct assistant. The accuser, identified only as Sarah, has stated that Khan engaged in escalating physical contact including touching and groping, with one incident occurring while she was asleep. Khan’s legal team has categorically denied any sexual contact or relationship with the alleged victim, characterizing the allegations as lacking sufficient evidence. Khan’s representatives have also challenged the fairness of the process, noting that he is barred from attending the vote due to US sanctions imposed against him.
The case has become entangled with one of the ICC’s most contentious investigations: alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Khan’s 2024 decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant prompted significant international backlash. The United States, an Israeli ally, responded by imposing sanctions on Khan and pledging a comprehensive governmental effort to undermine the tribunal’s operations. Some observers and supporters of Khan have characterized the case as politically motivated, with former EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell describing it as part of a broader offensive against the ICC.
Sarah has rejected claims that her allegations are politically driven or connected to efforts to undermine Khan’s prosecution of Israeli officials. She emphasized that various parties have conflated the two issues for their own purposes, which she said has distracted from the legitimacy of her complaint. If Khan is dismissed, an election process for his replacement would be triggered, though a new prosecutor is not expected to be selected before next year. Outstanding ICC arrest warrants would remain in effect regardless of Khan’s status, as only ICC judges retain authority over such matters.
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