The International Criminal Court voted on Friday to dismiss Prosecutor Karim Khan, after finding “serious misconduct and serious breach of duties”, nearly two years after allegations of sexual misconduct first emerged.
The decision comes at a time when the court, based in The Hague, faces increasing pressure from the United States, which has intensified its campaign against the institution.The ICC’s 125 member states approved Khan’s dismissal by a large majority during a meeting of the Assembly of States Parties, the court’s administrative body. Khan, a British lawyer, has consistently denied the accusations against him.The United States welcomed this step, and recently escalated its criticism of the International Criminal Court.
Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced what he described as “a sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court to American sovereignty.”
Why was Khan removed?
The 56-year-old prosecutor was accused of sexual misconduct with his assistant. According to documents reviewed by The Associated Press, Khan allegedly entered into a sexual relationship with the employee and later tried to prevent her from pursuing the allegations.
Khan has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.Announcing the decision, the Assembly of States Parties said Khan had been removed for “serious misconduct and serious breach of duties.”Human Rights Watch welcomed the decision, saying the court must maintain the highest standards of accountability.“The ICC must adhere to the highest standards,” Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch, told the AP. “This includes ensuring a safe workplace with effective and credible mechanisms available for employees or others who experience abuse, including sexual violence or harassment.”Khan’s legal team criticized the proceedings, arguing that he was not given a fair opportunity to defend himself before the member states voted.Lawyer Tayyab Ali said Khan’s disqualification “was determined through a process in which he was not given a fair opportunity to be heard, and in defiance of the conclusions of the independent judges who examined the full evidentiary record.”He added that Khan’s lawyers will appeal the decision “through all available legal mechanisms.”
The Assembly will now begin the process of electing a new Chief Prosecutor.
The United States intensifies its campaign against the International Criminal Court
Khan’s dismissal comes at a time when the Trump administration is intensifying its confrontation with the International Criminal Court. In a statement issued last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would pressure countries to withdraw from the court, sanction organizations working with it, and impose travel bans on ICC officials.“The United States has been waging a broad campaign to dismantle the threat the ICC poses to American sovereignty,” Rubio said.The Trump administration has already imposed sanctions on 13 ICC officials, including Khan, after the court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant over the war in Gaza. The ICC also investigated alleged crimes involving US personnel in Afghanistan.
