ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Removed from Office by Member States’ Vote
The assembly of member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted by majority to remove Karim Khan from his position as the court’s prosecutor. Officially, 82 out of 125 member countries concluded that he committed serious misconduct and grave breaches of his duties.
Earlier, the executive board of the member states assembly had reported that the British lawyer had an inappropriate relationship with a young female lawyer inside the court, deeming his continuation in office detrimental to the institution. Documents reviewed by Reuters indicate that this proposal was raised last month.
Karim Khan, 56, has denied all allegations. His lawyer, Tayyib Ali, stated that his client will legally challenge the decision to remove him.
With Khan’s departure, the process of selecting a new prosecutor will begin, but the replacement is not expected to be chosen until next year.
This development comes amid increased diplomatic pressure from the United States on the court. During a recent visit to the Philippines, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio again criticized the ICC, stating that no U.S. political or military official will be tried by the court.
Tommy Piggott, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, welcomed Khan’s removal but emphasized that this action will not change Washington’s approach toward the court. The U.S., which is not a member of the ICC, had previously sanctioned 11 judges and prosecutors of the institution, including Karim Khan, in response to the court’s arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Galant, as well as investigations into American forces in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the woman who accused Khan of sexual misconduct publicly reiterated her claims last week in an interview with CNN. Khan’s lawyers once again denied any sexual relationship between him and the young lawyer involved.
The ICC has stated that the removal of the prosecutor does not affect arrest warrants already issued and that only the court’s judges have the authority to annul or amend these orders.
The International Criminal Court, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, is responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
