Karim A. A. Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has been removed from his position, the court’s governing body announced on Friday, after a 20-month investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against a subordinate.
The decision, based on findings of “serious misconduct” and a breach of duty, was made by the Assembly of States Parties during a New York session. 82 of the 125 member states supported the removal.
This ruling aligns with demands from victims’ groups but leaves the court without its most prominent leader during a critical period. The investigation, which began in 2024, has coincided with ongoing global controversies, including U.S. opposition to the court’s actions against Israeli officials and Trump administration efforts to dismantle it.
Khan gained international visibility for issuing arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023 and Hamas and Israeli leaders, including Netanyahu, in 2024. The U.S., a non-member, has criticized his actions, with the Trump administration recently pledging to “dismantle” the court.
The removal may create instability as the court manages active cases, including warrants for Israeli leaders, a case against Philippine ex-president Duterte, and investigations into Libyan militants and Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis. Khan has denied the allegations, with his legal team calling the process “unsupported by lawful findings.”
External experts, including Harvard Law’s Alex Whiting, view the decision as a necessary step for the court’s survival amid declining global trust in international institutions. However, challenges remain: a new prosecutor must be elected, and Venezuela’s recent withdrawal under Trump administration pressure further complicates the court’s landscape.
The initial complaints emerged in 2024 when Sarah, a Malaysian lawyer assisting Khan, reported pressure to engage in non-consensual sexual activities. Though no formal complaint was filed initially, media coverage of the allegations intensified. The UN-led investigation found “non-consensual sexual contact,” but judges ruled it did not meet the “beyond a reasonable doubt” threshold. Despite this, the court’s governing body later concluded Khan had sexually harassed Sarah, citing a power imbalance that made the relationship inappropriate.
Sarah, speaking to CNN, described escalating sexual advances from Khan during work trips, starting in 2023. The ICC, established in 2002 to prosecute genocide and war crimes, faced prolonged uncertainty during Khan’s tenure. Critics, including EU former diplomat Josep Borrell, argued the investigation was politically motivated, possibly linked to Khan’s focus on Israel.
Sarah dismissed suggestions her case was tied to Khan’s warrants against high-profile figures, stating, “Victims do not choose the political calendar of their abusers. There is never a right time.”
Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreign minister, claimed the removal exposes the court’s “moral bankruptcy,” accusing Khan’s warrants of being a distraction from harassment allegations. The court’s future remains uncertain as it balances accountability with external pressures.
