THE HAGUE, Netherlands – In an unprecedented move, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, has been suspended from his duties following a lengthy investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female aide .
The decision was announced late Monday by the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the executive committee of the court's oversight body. The 21-member bureau referred the case to the full Assembly of States Parties, which represents all 125 ICC member states, for a final decision on Khan's fate . A special session of the assembly will be convened "as soon as possible" to vote on whether to remove him from office .
The suspension comes after an 18-month investigation that has thrown the international court into crisis and placed its most prominent official under intense scrutiny .
Investigation Details
The allegations against Khan were first reported to the court's independent watchdog more than two years ago . According to a copy of a report by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) seen by The Associated Press, investigators found evidence that Khan had "nonconsensual sexual contact with (the aide) in his office, at his private residence, and whilst on mission" .
Whistleblower documents previously reported by the AP alleged that Khan had moved the woman from another ICC department into his office, and that she became a regular presence on official trips . The alleged behavior reportedly included locking his office door, sticking his hand in her pocket, and asking her multiple times to accompany him on vacation .
However, the investigative process has been contentious. A three-judge panel selected by the executive committee to provide a legal assessment of the OIOS findings concluded that the evidence was insufficient to establish the truth of the allegations "beyond a reasonable doubt" . Despite this, the bureau determined by a "qualified majority" that Khan had committed serious misconduct and should face disciplinary proceedings .
Khan, 56, has been on voluntary leave since May 2025 to fight the allegations. He has repeatedly and steadfastly denied any wrongdoing .
Khan's Lawyers Respond
In a strongly worded statement, Khan's legal team rejected the suspension decision, calling it "unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence" .
The suspension does not prejudge the final outcome, the bureau emphasized in its statement . Khan remains suspended pending the assembly's decision, and no criminal charges have been filed against him .
A Polarizing Prosecutor
The scandal surrounding Khan has drawn particular attention because of the high-profile nature of his work as chief prosecutor, a position he has held since 2021 .
Khan gained international recognition—and fierce criticism—for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, among others . His pursuit of Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza prompted the United States to impose sanctions on ICC staff and judges . Israel, which is not a member of the ICC, has dismissed the court as "corrupt and morally bankrupt" .
The timing of the allegations has also raised questions. An investigation by The Jewish Chronicle reported that Qatar allegedly promised to "look after" Khan if he issued the arrest warrant against Netanyahu, and that Qatari-linked operatives sought to discredit one of Khan's accusers . Khan has denied any such arrangement and suggested that Netanyahu has "instrumentalised" the allegations against him .
What Happens Next
The 125 member states of the ICC will now vote in a secret ballot on whether to remove Khan from office. Removal would require a two-thirds majority . If the assembly votes to uphold the misconduct finding, a separate vote on removal would follow .
Regardless of the final outcome, the controversy has left the ICC under intense scrutiny, testing its internal governance mechanisms and raising questions about the leadership of a court already facing external pressures from major powers .
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