ICC top prosecutor ousted over sexual misconduct allegations

Sun Sep 06 2026 12:18:14 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Former ICC chief Karim-Khan removed amid sexual‑misconduct claims, sparking debate over the court’s future.

Karim Khan, ICC’s third chief prosecutor, was dismissed after an internal finding of serious misconduct involving an inappropriate relationship with a junior staffer. The court’s oversight body voted 82‑to‑0 for his removal, a decision that has intensified calls for reform. Khan, who has denied the allegations, claims the process was unlawful and unfair. The case arrives amid a political storm where the United States has launched a campaign to undermine the ICC and imposed sanctions on Khan for his pursuit of Israel‑related war‑crime investigations.

ICC top prosecutor ousted over sexual misconduct allegations

Members of the International Criminal Court voted to dismiss Karim Khan, the court’s chief prosecutor, after an investigation found a serious breach of duty involving an inappropriate relationship with junior staff.

The decision came after a 82‑vote majority, amid a broader crisis that has exposed cracks in the court’s oversight body and added pressure from powerful nations, especially the United States, which launched a campaign to weaken the ICC.

Following his suspension in May 2025, Khan denied every charge and claimed the process was unfair. His lawyers say the removal was “unlawful” and unsupported by evidence.

The controversy not only casts doubt on the ICC’s leadership but also reignites debate about the tribunal’s future ability to hold the world’s biggest crime‑makers accountable.

During the same period, the U.S. invoked sanctions against Khan after he sought arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war‑crime charges from the Gaza conflict, further heightening tensions.

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