Key facts
- Member states of the International Criminal Court voted to dismiss Karim Khan as prosecutor.
- The vote followed allegations of sexual misconduct against Khan.
- 82 of the court's 125 member states voted in favor of his removal.
- Khan denies all allegations of wrongdoing.
- Khan had been suspended from his official duties pending the vote.
Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted on Friday to dismiss Karim Khan as prosecutor, following allegations of sexual misconduct. According to diplomatic sources, 82 of the court's 125 member states voted in favor of his removal. Khan has consistently denied the allegations.
The vote, held during a special meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, marks the culmination of a nearly two-year saga. Khan, a British barrister, is accused of sexually harassing a junior colleague. An investigative report by the court's oversight body found he had committed "serious misconduct," and he was suspended from his duties pending the outcome of the vote.
Khan's legal team has disputed the findings, pointing to a panel of independent judges who reportedly found no evidence to establish the allegations beyond reasonable doubt. They have also argued that Khan should have been allowed to attend the vote to address the charges, but was barred due to U.S. sanctions against him. The ICC's host state, the Netherlands, was mentioned in relation to the proceedings, though the specific outcome of the vote in that context was unclear.
If Khan is fired, the process for electing a new ICC prosecutor would be triggered, with a new prosecutor not expected before next year. Any active ICC warrants would remain in place, as only ICC judges have the authority to withdraw them.