ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan Suspended Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations as Removal Vote Looms

Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was suspended from his duties late on Monday, an unprecedented move stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct.

The court's oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), initiated disciplinary proceedings against him after a scandal that has spanned more than two years.

Khan, a prominent British lawyer, has steadfastly and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing related to the claims.

The allegations, which first emerged in 2024, relate to Khan's conduct between 2023 and 2024 with a female aide who worked for him at the court's headquarters in The Hague. The woman alleged he engaged in coercive and nonconsensual sexual behavior over an extended period.

The alleged misconduct is said to have occurred in various locations, including his office, his private residence, in hotel rooms on work trips, and whilst on mission.

Khan's lawyers have previously stated that he "categorically denies" having "harassed or mistreated any individual, or having misused his position or authority, or engaged in any conduct that could be interpreted as coercive, exploitative, or professionally inappropriate."

The decision to suspend Khan was made by the 21-member bureau of the ASP, also referred to as the executive committee, which voted by a qualified majority.

This decision was based on a comprehensive report from an investigation undertaken by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), underlying evidence, the advice of an ad hoc Panel of judicial experts, and written submissions from both Khan and the alleged victim.

The UN investigation reportedly found evidence that Khan had "nonconsensual sexual contact" with the aide in multiple locations. However, a separate three-judge panel selected for a legal assessment of these findings concluded that the investigation was not conclusive enough.

Khan's suspension is effective immediately and is pending a final decision by the wider Assembly of States Parties, which represents every member country of the ICC.

The governing body emphasized that this suspension "is not an indication of the final outcome," suggesting that a vote on his potential removal from office could follow. The process has necessitated the creation of new rules by the ASP to accommodate the unique circumstances.

This development will have little practical impact on the immediate functioning of the court, as Khan had already temporarily stepped down in May 2025 pending the investigation's outcome, and had been removed from pleading in the ICC's most high-profile case against former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

He had also temporarily stepped aside from running the division of the ICC that investigates and prosecutes individuals accused of atrocities.