ICC votes to oust Prosecutor Khan over sexual misconduct allegations
- Reacting to the vote, Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch and a visiting professor at Princeton University, said on X that ICC member states had “done the right thing” by removing Khan from office.
Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted on Friday to remove Prosecutor Karim Khan from office after the court’s oversight body found he had committed “serious misconduct and serious breach of duty” following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
The decision was taken by the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the ICC’s governing body, with 82 of the court’s 125 member states voting in favor of Khan’s dismissal. Thirteen countries opposed the move, while 15 abstained.
ASP President Paivi Kaukoranta said the decision followed findings that Khan had committed serious misconduct.
Khan, a 56-year-old British barrister, has repeatedly denied allegations of sexual misconduct made by a female aide. He was temporarily relieved of his duties in June after an executive committee of the court’s oversight body concluded that he had engaged in serious misconduct.
Despite his removal, all active arrest warrants issued during Khan’s tenure will remain in force, as only ICC judges have the authority to revoke or amend them, according to news agencies.
Khan’s lawyer, Tayab Ali, said the former prosecutor intends to contest the decision. “Mr. Khan will challenge the lawfulness and fairness of the decision through all available legal mechanisms,” Ali said in a post on X.
Reacting to the vote, Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch and a visiting professor at Princeton University, said on X that ICC member states had “done the right thing” by removing Khan from office.
The ICC has not yet announced the process or timeline for appointing Khan’s successor.
