ICC member states vote to dismiss Prosecutor Karim Khan amid sexual misconduct allegations

Member states of the International Criminal Court voted on Friday to dismiss Karim Khan as prosecutor following allegations of sexual misconduct, two diplomatic sources told Reuters. According to the sources, 82 of the court’s 125 member states voted in favour of the prosecutor’s removal. Khan, 56, denies any wrongdoing, and his lawyers have called the decision by the court’s governing body unlawful, procedurally unfair, and unsupported by evidence.

The vote comes amid renewed US criticism of the war crimes court, which Washington sees as a threat to its sovereignty. During a visit to the Philippines on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there were “lunatics and crazies involved in the ICC,” reiterating previous criticism. The US, which is not a member of the ICC, has already imposed sanctions on 11 ICC judges and prosecutors, including Khan, citing the ICC’s arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and a past probe into US troops in Afghanistan.

Officials from the court’s governing body have said Khan should be dismissed because he committed serious misconduct by having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior staff member, according to documents seen by Reuters. Khan’s lawyers have denied the allegations, stating that he denied “any sexual relationship of any kind” with the staff member. France said on Thursday it would vote in favour of Khan’s removal.

For Khan to be fired, an absolute majority of at least 63 of the court’s 125 member states had to agree in the secret ballot. The dismissal will be seen by his supporters as the result of political pressure after the prosecutor sought arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials for alleged war crimes. Even if Khan had survived the vote, his position would have been weakened, giving critics of the court another stick to beat it with.

Khan’s firing immediately triggers the election process for a new ICC prosecutor, who is not expected to be voted in before next year. Any active ICC warrants will remain in place even if Khan is dismissed, as only ICC judges have the authority to withdraw warrants. The decision to dismiss Khan marks a significant moment for the ICC, which has faced growing scrutiny and criticism in recent years. The outcome of the vote reflects the deep divisions among member states over the court’s leadership and its role in international justice. As the process to select a new prosecutor begins, the ICC will need to navigate these challenges to maintain its credibility and effectiveness in prosecuting war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. The dismissal of Khan also highlights the broader tensions surrounding the court’s operations and its relationship with powerful nations like the US, which has consistently opposed the ICC’s jurisdiction over its citizens and allies. The coming months will be critical in shaping the future of the ICC and its ability to deliver justice on the global stage.