On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has been suspended with immediate effect while an investigation into alleged sexual misconduct and abuse of authority continues.

The decision was made by a group within the ICC’s management oversight body, which has referred the matter to the Court’s 125 member states. Those states will vote on Khan’s future in a special session that will be convened “as soon as possible”. The oversight Bureau stressed that the suspension does not prejudice the outcome of the case.

Khan has repeatedly denied all accusations. His lawyers described the suspension as “unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence”. Media reports cite a document outlining accusations, including unwanted sexual touching and what staff have described as abuse.

The investigation began in May 2024 when a third‑party reported claims that Khan had engaged in sexual misconduct with a female staff member. The ICC’s Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM) opened an inquiry but closed the case after the alleged victim declined to participate. A second referral was made in October 2024 and the matter was transferred to the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which produced over 5,000 pages of evidence and testimony between November 2024 and December 2025.

The OIOS findings were reviewed by a panel of three judges who would advise the Bureau of the Attorney‑Special for the Prosecutor (ASP) on whether Khan’s conduct amounted to serious misconduct, less serious misconduct, or no misconduct. The allegations surfaced during a period of exceptional pressure on the ICC.

Staff members in the Office of the Prosecutor have warned that Khan’s return could undermine confidence in the institution and create a risk of retaliation. Supporters argue that the investigation failed to substantiate the allegations. Meanwhile, the controversy coincides with wider political tensions around the Court and recent U.S. sanctions.

The United States imposed sanctions on Khan after he sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes linked to the Gaza war. Those sanctions were later expanded to cover two deputy prosecutors, eight ICC judges, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Palestinian organisations that supplied evidence. Although the U.S., Russia and Israel are not ICC members, the Court can exercise jurisdiction over crimes committed by their nationals on ICC member state territory.

If the ASP moves to remove Khan, he could challenge the decision before the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization (ILOAT), which hears employment‑related appeals involving ICC staff. A legal challenge could trigger a lengthy process, potentially resulting in reinstatement and significant compensation if a tribunal finds the disciplinary procedure flawed.