Unprecedented Removal Vote
The International Criminal Court's member states voted on Friday, July 24, to remove Karim Khan as chief prosecutor, the first such dismissal in the court's history. The vote followed an investigation that found Khan committed serious misconduct related to sexual abuse allegations from a female colleague, nearly two years after the allegations first emerged. The special meeting took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York, with 82 of the court's 125 member states voting in favor, 13 against, and 11 abstaining. A motion by Sierra Leone to make removal harder failed earlier in the session, allowing the vote to proceed hours ahead of schedule.[S1][S2][S5]
Khan, a prominent British barrister elected in 2021 for a nine-year term, has consistently denied all allegations. His legal team has argued that the disciplinary process was procedurally unfair and announced they would challenge the decision through all available legal mechanisms. During his tenure, Khan sought arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu, raising the court's profile but also drawing intense backlash. Khan was unable to attend the vote due to US sanctions barring him from entering the country, and he remains suspended from practising law in the UK.[S1][S4]
Allegations and Disciplinary Process
The allegations against Khan were brought by a woman who worked for him at the ICC, accusing him of coercive and non-consensual sexual behaviour over an extended period. An initial investigation by the ICC's Independent Oversight Mechanism was closed after the alleged victim declined to participate. A second referral in October 2024 led to the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services conducting an investigation from November 2024 to December 2025, generating over 5,000 pages of evidence. The findings were reviewed by a panel of three judges, and the ICC's oversight body concluded Khan had committed 'serious misconduct', suspending him in June and referring the matter to member states for a removal decision. Khan has repeatedly denied the allegations, and the woman, identified only as Sarah, told CNN her complaint was based on her experience and not political reasons.[S1][S4][S6]
A second woman, who came forward to the Guardian, accused Khan of mistreating her while she was an intern earlier in his career; he has categorically denied ever harassing or mistreating any individual. The oversight body found no evidence to support claims that the original complainant was being used by third parties, including intelligence agencies. Human rights groups, including the International Federation for Human Rights, have expressed concern that the victim has been publicly questioned and instrumentalised. Some Palestinian organisations have accused the executive committee of political interference in the process.[S1][S3]
Political Fallout and Future
Khan's removal occurs as the ICC faces unprecedented pressure from the Trump administration, which has imposed sanctions on Khan and a dozen other ICC staff and launched a campaign to 'systematically disable the ICC's ability to operate' and even dismantle the court. Hours after the vote, Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the court, alleging geographical bias against the Global South. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on member states to withdraw, sanction organizations that work with the court, and ban staff from traveling to the US, also pressuring countries under the US security umbrella to reject the court's jurisdiction over US citizens. Senior officials at the court do not expect US hostility to diminish with a change in prosecutor.[S1][S5][S6]
The arrest warrants issued under Khan for figures including Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu remain unaffected by his removal. The warrants were issued by judges and can only be withdrawn by them. A new prosecutor must be elected by member states, though a vote is not expected before next year. The prosecutor's office, with about 400 staff, has been left bruised by the protracted scandal. Some within the division believe one of the current deputies should take over, while others feel a fresh start is needed following two years of turmoil. Khan's dismissal marks the end of a damaging episode, but his legal challenges may continue.[S1][S6]
