ICC Top Prosecutor Removed Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Sun Sep 06 2026 06:28:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

ICC dismisses chief prosecutor Karim Khan after a vote citing sexual misconduct, amid global scrutiny of the war‑crimes tribunal.

In a rare move, the International Criminal Court voted 82‑to‑0 to remove its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, following an investigation into sexual misconduct with a junior staff member. Khan, elected in 2021, had been suspended earlier this year and denied the accusations. The ruling comes as the ICC faces pressure from the United States and other states, and could reshape the tribunal’s future. Khan plans to challenge the decision legally, while the court reaffirms its commitment to a respectful working environment.

ICC top prosecutor removed over sexual misconduct allegations

After an extensive investigation, members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted 82‑to‑0 to remove Karim Khan from his post as chief prosecutor. Khan, who was elected in 2021, had been suspended in May after allegations emerged of an improper sexual relationship with a junior staff member and attempts to disrupt her complaint.

The court’s oversight body found Khan’s conduct to constitute a “serious breach of duty and serious misconduct.” Khan has consistently denied the accusations and has pledged to challenge the dismissal through all available legal avenues.

The decision was the culmination of a series of investigations. An initial inquiry by the ICC’s Independent Oversight Mechanism was closed in 2024 when the alleged victim declined to participate, but a subsequent probe handled by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services produced over 5,000 pages of evidence from November 2024 to December 2025.

The verdict was taken at a special session of the Assembly of States Parties—a gathering of the 125 member states—to address the case. In a statement, the ICC emphasised its commitment to a safe and respectful working environment for all personnel.

Khan, a prominent British lawyer, has remained on voluntary leave since May 2025 and is currently barred from practising law in the UK, following an interim ban by the Bar Standards Board. He was also prohibited from entering the United States, a consequence of sanctions imposed by the Trump administration over the ICC’s probing of alleged war crimes by Israeli officials in Gaza.

The controversy has intensified existing debates about the ICC’s future, with critics arguing it risks being weakened and undermined by political pressures, especially from the United States, Russia, and Israel. The court faces an unprecedented campaign by Washington to dismantle it “brick by brick” through visa bans, asset freezes and diplomatic pressure on allies.

Despite the removal, the broader fallout remains uncertain. Khan plans to appeal the decision, and the ICC is likely to undergo reforms to restore confidence in its governance and assurances of impartial justice.