Investigators at The Hague have called for International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan to be dismissed from his post following allegations of sexual misconduct. The recommendation, detailed in a 27-page document seen by Reuters, has been forwarded to the court's 125 member states, who will vote on his future on July 24.
Khan, a British barrister, was suspended two weeks ago by the ICC and the Bar Standards Board, preventing him from practicing in England and Wales. These actions follow claims of an inappropriate relationship that first surfaced two years ago. According to the document, the vote to dismiss Khan requires the agreement of at least 63 member states.
Khan has repeatedly denied the allegations. His lawyers have stated that the move to sack him is "unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence." They cited a review by judges that found insufficient evidence to prove the allegations "beyond a reasonable doubt."
However, the court's bureau, an executive and political body, has reportedly overruled an advisory board of three external judges who concluded they did not have enough evidence to make a decision. Khan's legal team criticized this decision, asserting that the bureau "purported to substitute its own assessment for that of the independent judges it appointed."
Despite the defense's claims, the decision document seen by Reuters reportedly states that evidence establishes "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Khan engaged in a sexual relationship with the alleged victim, a female lawyer. The relationship reportedly began in March 2023 and escalated, with the document noting that a sexual relationship was "never appropriate" given the power imbalance.
The UN file also reportedly indicated that Khan's behavior escalated over time, leading to non-consensual sexual contact in his office, private residence, and while on mission, recommending his "removal from office."
Khan's tenure as ICC prosecutor has been marked by controversy. Notably, he sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. In response, the United States imposed sanctions on 11 ICC judges and prosecutors, including Khan.