THE HAGUE — Karim Khan was suspended from his duties as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court late Monday. The Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties referred Khan for disciplinary proceedings.
The Assembly oversees the ICC and will convene a special session to determine if Khan remains in his position. The Assembly comprises 125 member states, and a secret ballot majority of 63 states is required to remove the chief prosecutor. No date has been set for this special session. The suspension marks the first time an ICC chief prosecutor has been formally suspended by the court's oversight body.
The Bureau based its decision on a United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services report, underlying evidence, advice from an ad hoc panel of judicial experts, and written submissions. The Bureau stated that the suspension is not an indication of the final outcome. The executive committee that referred Khan consists of 21 member states of the court.
The report documented allegations of nonconsensual sexual contact between Khan and a female aide. These alleged interactions occurred in his office, private residence, and during official missions between 2023 and 2024. Documents allege that Khan moved the aide to his office, locked his office door, and placed his hand in her pocket. The allegations were first reported to the court's independent watchdog more than two years prior to June 2026.
Khan voluntarily took leave from his duties in May 2025 pending the investigation. A three-judge panel selected by the executive committee concluded the investigation was not conclusive enough to establish misconduct. Khan has repeatedly denied the allegations of wrongdoing.
Khan, a 56-year-old British lawyer, previously sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. He also sought arrest warrants for Hamas leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, regarding the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The United States sanctioned Khan, and he was removed from legal proceedings in a case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.