Key facts
- ICC member states voted to remove Karim Khan as chief prosecutor over sexual misconduct allegations.
- Karim Khan denies the allegations and plans to challenge his dismissal legally.
- The United States stated Khan's removal will not impact its campaign to dismantle the ICC.
- Supporters of the ICC are working to determine the court's path forward after the prosecutor's ouster.
- The vote for Khan's removal was decisive, with a large majority of member states voting in favor.
Supporters of the International Criminal Court are seeking a path forward after the institution removed its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, over allegations of sexual misconduct. A decisive vote by 125 member states on Friday led to Khan's ouster, despite his denial of wrongdoing and intent to challenge the decision legally.
The United States, which has been critical of the ICC and announced a campaign to "dismantle" it, stated that Khan's removal would not alter its plans. The U.S. previously imposed sanctions on Khan and other ICC staff in retaliation for investigations into Israeli and U.S. personnel.
Khan's removal occurred during a period of significant pressure on the global tribunal, including its ongoing investigation into the war in Gaza and the issuance of arrest warrants for top Israeli officials. Palestinian representatives, however, asserted that the vote was not a political proxy on any ICC situation.
Following the vote, Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the court, citing perceived geographical bias. Meanwhile, Khan's two deputy prosecutors will continue to lead the office until a new chief prosecutor is selected, a process that previously took 18 months and drew criticism for insufficient background checks.
Khan's legal team has stated he will pursue all available legal mechanisms to challenge the decision, though there is no formal appeals process for his removal. The vote itself was surprisingly swift and decisive, occurring hours ahead of schedule after a motion to make ousting Khan more difficult failed.