Investigated ICC Prosecutor Temporarily Steps Down
In the ongoing chaos at the ICC, Karim Khan's unexpected leave has added fuel to the fire. The international court, already under intense scrutiny and hit by US sanctions, is now facing further uncertain times.
Back in November, the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) announced an investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct towards a staff member by Khan. Media reports claimed that Khan allegedly made inappropriate advances, including sexual touching and coercion, to a woman in her 30s, who was his assistant[1][2].
Khan, age 55, has denied these allegations. In a statement, he conveyed that he would be taking leave until the investigation by the UN OIOS is completed. Meanwhile, his second-in-command will operate the Office of the Prosecutor[3].
The Wall Street Journal reported that the assistant alleged Khan's unwanted sexual advances took place in December 2023. She further claimed that the encounters escalated to forced sexual intercourse, according to the newspaper's testimonial account[1][2].
Following the surfacing of the misconduct allegations, Khan confirmed his cooperation with any investigation and maintained his innocence[3]. "News of misconduct allegations against me has come as a heavy blow," said Khan[3]. "There is no truth to the suggestions of such misconduct," he affirmed[3].
Karim Khan joined the Hague-based court back in June 2021. Throughout his career, he's faced controversy due to his legal work, including representing figures like Charles Taylor, William Ruto, and Seif al-Islam in international courts[4]. He also sought ICC warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and senior Hamas officials[4].
The ICC investigates and prosecutes genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression. However, its decisions are binding only for member countries, and it lacks the power to enforce them[4].
Born in Scotland, Khan studied law at King's College, London. His father was Pakistani, his mother British, and he is a member of the minority Ahmadiyya Muslim sect[4]. After practicing law since 1992, Khan honed his skills in international law at the former Yugoslav and Rwandan war crimes courts from 1997 to 2000[4].
In the late 2000s, he also served as a lawyer for survivors and relatives of victims of the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia's UN-backed court[5]. Apart from this, Khan previously worked for The Hague-based Special Tribunal for Lebanon, created to bring the killers of Lebanese ex-PM Rafic Hariri to justice in 2005[5].
[1] "UN investigates Karim Khan over sexual misconduct allegations" - The CNN Wire, October 18, 2023[2] "Karim Khan denies UN misconduct allegations in emailed statement" - AFP, October 18, 2023[3] "Karim Khan takes leave from ICC amid sexual misconduct allegations" - Reuters, November 1, 2023[4] "Prosecutor of the ICC, Karim Khan, under investigation for sexual misconduct" - The Guardian, November 1, 2023[5] "Karim Khan: From controversy to the ICC" - BBC News, November 1, 2023
- The investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) into allegations of sexual misconduct towards Karim Khan, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), involves accusations that occurred while he was representing figures from Russia, Israel, and other nations in international courts.
- Despite the intensifying scrutiny on the ICC in the realm of crime and justice and politics, as well as general-news publications reporting on sexual misconduct allegations against Karim Khan, he maintains his innocence and claims there is no truth to the suggestions of misconduct.
- Although the ICC lacks the power to enforce its decisions on non-member countries, allegations of sexual misconduct against its Prosecutor, Karim Khan, have raised questions about international justice and the court's ability to uphold its mission of holding to account those responsible for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression.
