THE HAGUE: Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have voted to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office following findings of serious misconduct linked to allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of authority.
The decision was approved during a special session of the Assembly of States Parties at the United Nations headquarters in New York, with 82 member states voting in favour of Khan’s dismissal.
Khan, who has been on voluntary leave since May 2025, has repeatedly denied all allegations and said he would challenge the decision through available legal channels.
The ICC’s oversight mechanism concluded in June that Khan had committed a serious breach of duty by engaging in an improper relationship with a junior staff member and attempting to discourage her from pursuing a complaint.
The findings followed a lengthy investigation by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services, which reviewed thousands of pages of evidence and testimony before an independent panel assessed the case.
In a statement issued after the vote, the ICC acknowledged the decision of its member states and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive and respectful working environment for all personnel.
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Khan, a British lawyer elected as the ICC’s third chief prosecutor in 2021, was unable to attend the session because he is barred from entering the United States under sanctions imposed by Washington over the court’s investigation into war crimes involving Israeli officials during the Gaza conflict.
The case has unfolded amid mounting political pressure on the ICC, with the United States intensifying its criticism of the court and announcing measures aimed at limiting its activities.
Supporters of the tribunal have expressed concern that the controversy and external pressure could undermine the effectiveness of the world’s only permanent international court tasked with prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
