In brief
The ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, has been suspended with immediate effect as an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct proceeds. The Court’s oversight body has referred the case to all 125 member states, who will vote on Khan’s future at a special session. Earlier investigations by the IOM and OIOS produced over 5,000 pages of evidence and ultimately found insufficient proof of misconduct, yet the controversy continues. With U.S. sanctions against Khan and broader political tensions, staff fear retaliation whereas Khan’s supporters argue the findings are flawed. The outcome could be a legal challenge in the ILOA Tribunal, potentially leading to reinstatement and compensation if the disciplinary process is deemed unlawful.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has suspended its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, effective immediately as an inquiry into accusations of unwanted sexual touching and other abuse proceeds.
The decision came from the Court’s Oversight Bureau, which has now referred the matter to all 125 member states. Those states will meet at a special session “as soon as possible” to decide whether Khan remains in office.
Earlier investigations by the Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM) and the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) produced more than 5,000 pages of evidence but ultimately concluded that the evidence did not substantiate the allegations. Nevertheless, the allegations have become a flashpoint for debate over the Court’s governance and judicial independence.
Khan has been on voluntary leave since May 2025 and has faced U.S. sanctions after he pursued arrest warrants against Israeli political figures. The sanctions were later expanded to include several ICC judges and other officials.
If the member states vote for removal, Khan could challenge the decision in the International Labour Organization’s Administrative Tribunal, which might reverse the sanction or award compensation if the disciplinary process proved flawed.
The situation underlines the ICC’s crisis of confidence, as staff fear retaliation and supporters argue the findings were a political attack. The final outcome will shape both the future of the Court’s leadership and its credibility on the global stage.
