Karim Khan Removed as ICC Prosecutor Amid Misconduct Allegations
International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor dismissed following a decisive vote by member states at the UN headquarters.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Carla Rooney
Karim Khan has been removed from his role as prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) after a special meeting at the UN's headquarters in New York.
Eighty-two of 125 member states voted to remove Karim Khan on July 24, 2026. This decision by member states aligns with a conclusion reached last month by the court's oversight body.
A woman who worked for Khan at the ICC first reported allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female staff member to the ICC in May 2024.
The United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) conducted an investigation into these allegations, alongside claims of abuse of authority, from November 2024 to December 2025.
The ICC's member states claim Karim Khan committed serious misconduct in connection to allegations of sexual abuse.
An unspecified woman who worked for Khan at the ICC claims the allegations include coercive and non-consensual sexual behavior over an extended period.
Khan's accuser claims the prosecutor had a non-consensual sexual relationship with her.
Karim Khan vehemently denies any wrongdoing, according to his own statement.
Lawyers for Khan claim he denied 'any sexual relationship of any kind' with the staff member.
Khan's legal team claims the disciplinary process was procedurally unfair and unlawful, asserting it lacked evidentiary support.
Beyond the legal debate, this removal occurs as the ICC faces broader scrutiny regarding its operational scope and perceived biases.
Felix Plasencia claims the ICC disproportionately targets nations in the Global South, specifically across Africa and Latin America.
The United States, Russia, and Israel are not members of the ICC, which limits the court's universal jurisdiction.
Khan himself remains barred from entering the United States under sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.
Venezuela formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, a move that followed its own investigation into alleged war crimes.
Despite Khan's dismissal, any active ICC warrants will remain in place. Ongoing legal processes are not immediately halted by this change in leadership.