International Criminal Court Suspends Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan Over Misconduct Allegations
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has suspended its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, with immediate effect, as an investigation into misconduct allegations continues. The decision was made by a group within the ICC's management oversight body, which has also referred the matter to the court's 125 member states for a vote during a special session.
Khan, a British lawyer who has been on voluntary leave since May 2025 to address the allegations, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers have described the suspension as "unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence." Previous media reports have detailed accusations against Khan, understood to include unwanted sexual touching and "abuse."
The controversy stems from a May 2024 report to the ICC regarding alleged sexual misconduct involving a female staff member. Although the court's Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM) initially closed its investigation due to the alleged victim declining to participate, critics questioned the handling of the inquiry. A second referral in October 2024 led to a broader investigation by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which concluded in December 2025 after generating over 5,000 pages of evidence.
This internal dispute unfolds amid significant external pressure on the ICC. The United States imposed sanctions on Khan after he sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant concerning alleged crimes in Gaza. These sanctions were later expanded to include other ICC officials and Palestinian organisations. The USA, Russia, and Israel are not ICC members, yet the court maintains jurisdiction over crimes committed by their nationals on member state territory.
