Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has been suspended with immediate effect after the ICC’s governing body found he committed serious misconduct in a long-running sexual harassment case.
The unprecedented decision leaves the court’s high-profile investigations into conflicts including Ukraine, Gaza and the Philippines without permanent leadership at a critical moment.
The ICC’s Assembly of States Parties Bureau announced the suspension late on Monday following an 18-month investigation by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services.
A UN Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation found evidence of non-consensual sexual contact between Khan and a female lawyer on his staff, with alleged incidents occurring in his office, private residence, and during official trips.
However, an independent panel of three judges appointed to review the findings concluded that, while there was evidence of sexual contact without consent, the proof was not strong enough to establish serious misconduct beyond reasonable doubt.
Despite the judges’ assessment, the ICC’s Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties sided with the UN investigators, formally ruled that Khan had committed serious misconduct, and has now referred the case to the full Assembly of 125 member states for a potential vote on his permanent removal.
Khan, a British barrister who took office in 2021, strongly denies all allegations and has described the process as procedurally unfair.
His lawyers have rejected the suspension in the strongest terms.
He had already stepped aside voluntarily in May 2025 while the investigation continued.
The suspension risks further delaying sensitive prosecutions.
Khan’s office has pursued arrest warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Israeli officials over the Gaza conflict, and other high-profile targets.
He did this despite the fact that Russia and Israel do not recognise the court nor have they ratified the Rome Statute, leaving the ICC without authority over their nationals or territory.
Critics and supporters of the court alike have warned that prolonged leadership uncertainty undermines the ICC’s credibility and operational effectiveness even further at a time of intense global scrutiny.
This marks the first time an ICC chief prosecutor has been formally suspended by the court’s oversight body. A special session of the Assembly of States Parties will now decide Khan’s ultimate fate.
Prior to this scandal, the institution was already facing accusations of political bias, slow proceedings and limited enforcement power.
Hungary’s parliament has approved legislation to maintain the country’s membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC), formally halting the withdrawal process initiated under the previous government of Viktor Orbán. https://t.co/ItKpKNTQiX
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) May 28, 2026
