ICC Puts Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan on Hold, pending the result of a misconduct probe
The International Criminal Court has suspended Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a member of his office.
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Karim Khan. Photo/Courtesy
By Natalia Chepkemboi
The International Criminal Court said it has put its Chief Prosecutor, Karim Khan, on temporary suspension after allegations of sexual misconduct involving someone within his office.
This move was made public on Monday by the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the court’s main governing body, which decided to remove Khan from his responsibilities, at least for now, while investigations and internal discussions keep going .
In a statement, the ASP Bureau said the suspension comes into effect right away , and it will stay in place until a final determination is reached.
“The Bureau stresses that this suspension is not in any way a sign of the final result,” it said, in the statement.
The ASP also underlined that the decision should not be taken as any kind of ruling on the allegations , since the investigative process is still underway.
“The suspension is a procedural step meant to preserve the integrity of the work, while investigations and deliberations continue,” the statement added
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Khan had already stepped back from his post in May 2025, taking what they described as a leave of absence while he contested the allegations against him.
In recent years, the prosecutor drew major attention worldwide after he sought arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, tied to the Gaza conflict .
For the ICC, this suspension is being seen as a major, high weight moment as it deals with one of the most prominent internal controversies from its more recent years.
Legal analysts say whatever happens after the investigation might end up carrying consequences well beyond the individual case, affecting the court’s leadership and its credibility, especially because the institution is currently managing several widely watched international matters.
The ICC has not said when a final decision on the issue is expected, not even roughly .
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