ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan ousted amid sexual misconduct allegations

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:11:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

ICC votes to remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan after accusations of sexual misconduct and a broader scrutiny of the tribunal.

Members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted to dismiss prosecutor Karim Khan after a detailed investigation revealed allegations of sexual misconduct involving a junior staff member. Khan, who has denied the claims, was removed in a 82‑vote majority. The decision followed a complex inquiry by the court’s Independent Oversight Mechanism and the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services, and it occurs against a backdrop of political pressure from the United States, which has imposed sanctions on Khan. The ICC emphasised its commitment to a safe, inclusive workplace, while the controversy is likely to continue as Khan seeks legal remedies.

Members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted to dismiss prosecutor Karim Khan after a detailed investigation revealed allegations of sexual misconduct involving a junior staff member.

Khan, elected as the court’s third chief prosecutor in 2021, was suspended last month over a “serious breach of duty” and was formally removed by a 82‑vote majority of state representatives at a special session held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Investigators found that Khan had engaged in an improper sexual relationship with an ICC employee and had attempted to stop her from filing a complaint about the misconduct.

The prosecutor has denied all allegations, and his lawyer declared that Khan would challenge the decision’s lawfulness and fairness through every available legal channel.

The ICC said it will place continued emphasis on maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful working environment for all personnel.

The case has attracted attention beyond the police, reaching into the wider political arena. The United States has imposed sanctions on Khan for his pursuit of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders linked to war‑crime allegations in Gaza, and has launched a concerted campaign to weaken, and potentially dismantle, the ICC.

Khan was barred from entering the United States under these sanctions, which prevented him from attending the vote in New York. He is also suspended from practising law in the UK, after the Bar Standards Board placed him on an interim ban pending its own inquiry.

The investigations began in May 2024 after allegations were reported to the ICC. The Independent Oversight Mechanism opened a probe, which was initially closed when the alleged victim declined to participate; a second referral in October 2024 transferred the matter to the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services. The OIOS inquiry, which ran from November 2024 to December 2025, amassed more than 5,000 pages of evidence and testimony and resulted in a review by a panel of three judges.

The controversies surrounding Khan coincide with escalated political tensions, as the US has pledged visa bans, asset freezes and diplomatic pressure on allies dissuading them from supporting the ICC. While the United States, Russia and Israel are not members of the court, the ICC can still exercise jurisdiction over crimes committed by their nationals on territory of member states.