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 sexual misconduct allegations.
The decision was approved during a special session of the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties, with 82 member states voting in favour of his removal. Khan, who became the court’s third Chief Prosecutor in 2021, had been on suspension since last month after taking voluntary leave while investigations were ongoing.
According to the ICC’s oversight body, Khan committed a serious breach of duty and serious misconduct by engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior staff member and attempting to prevent her from pursuing her complaint.
Khan has consistently denied all allegations against him. His legal team said he would challenge the decision through all available legal channels, describing the process as unlawful and unfair.
In a statement, the ICC acknowledged the decision of its member states and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive and respectful workplace for all personnel.
The case has placed the world’s only permanent war crimes tribunal under intense international scrutiny, raising concerns among supporters about the court’s credibility and effectiveness.
The allegations first surfaced in 2024 and were investigated by both the ICC’s Independent Oversight Mechanism and later the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), whose extensive inquiry concluded with findings that led to Khan’s removal.
The controversy has also unfolded amid growing political pressure on the ICC, particularly following Khan’s decision to seek arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes related to the Gaza conflict.
The United States has since imposed sanctions on Khan and intensified its criticism of the ICC, with Washington recently pledging to increase diplomatic and economic pressure against the court.
