New Delhi: International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has been removed from office following a secret ballot by the court’s member states. The decision comes after months of investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of authority. Following the conclusion of the probe, a majority of member countries voted in favour of his removal. The move is being viewed as one of the most significant administrative decisions in the ICC’s history.
How was this decision taken?
A special meeting of ICC member countries was called at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The meeting was not public, and voting was also conducted secretly. Out of a total of 125 member countries, 82 voted in favour of removing Karim Khan from the post. Only 13 countries supported him, while 15 countries abstained from voting. After the majority was clear, the process of removing him from the post was completed.
When did the controversy start?
The case against Karim Khan came to light in May 2025. A former female ICC colleague had accused him of sexual misconduct and abuse of rights. The identity of the woman was not made public due to security reasons. The complaint said that due to his holding a senior position, there was an imbalance of power and this was taken advantage of. After the allegations came to light, the court initiated an independent investigation, and Khan was relieved of his duties until the investigation was completed.
Has Karim Khan accepted the charges?
Karim Khan has denied all the allegations from the beginning. He says that the allegations levelled against him are baseless. His lawyers have also made it clear that they will challenge this decision on the legal platform. He claims that the entire process was not fair and he did not get adequate opportunity to present his side.
What did ICC say?
The Hague-based court has accepted the decision of the member countries. Paivi Kaukoranta, President of the Assembly of States Parties, said that maintaining the institution’s credibility and impartiality is the biggest priority. According to him, the work of the court is not dependent on any one official, and despite the change in leadership, the investigation of international crimes will continue as before.
Why was Karim Khan in the news internationally?
Karim Khan took over as the ICC chief prosecutor in 2021. Many sensitive cases were investigated during his tenure. His demand for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then defence minister Yoav Galant during the Gaza war brought him into the global spotlight. He had also initiated action against senior leaders of Hamas. In such a situation, his removal from the post on personal charges is not only an administrative decision but is also being considered an important development for the international justice system.
