Member states of the International Criminal Court have voted to dismiss chief prosecutor Karim Khan following allegations of serious sexual misconduct, marking an unprecedented removal at the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal.
A large majority of the court’s 125 member states backed the dismissal on Friday, endorsing an earlier recommendation from the executive bureau of the ICC’s governing body, the Assembly of States Parties.
The British barrister was accused of engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior lawyer at the court and of seeking to stop her from pursuing a formal complaint. Khan has denied the allegations.
Diplomats running the court’s executive bureau had said the previous month that Khan should be fired over the conduct, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. Friday’s vote formalised that recommendation.
The dismissal removes one of the most prominent figures in international justice at a sensitive moment for the tribunal, which handles some of the world’s most serious cases involving war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.
Khan had already stepped aside from his duties earlier while the allegations were investigated. His removal now brings that temporary absence to a definitive close, leaving the prosecutor’s office in the hands of deputy officials.
The case has drawn attention to how international institutions handle internal misconduct claims, a theme echoed in other high-profile disputes such as recent probes involving senior officials facing internal scrutiny.
The ICC, based in The Hague, was established in 2002 to prosecute individuals for the gravest international crimes. It has faced mounting external pressure in recent years, including sanctions and political challenges from several governments over its investigations.
The court will now move to appoint a new chief prosecutor to lead its docket of active investigations. Officials have indicated that ongoing cases will continue without interruption during the transition period.