The International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to hold a vote on July 24 to decide whether to remove its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, following allegations of sexual misconduct. The decision comes amid growing scrutiny of the court’s credibility during a period when it faces increased external pressure and internal divisions.
Khan, 56, strongly denies the allegations and has rejected claims of any wrongdoing. The vote will take place during a meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York and requires an absolute majority of at least 63 of the ICC’s 125 member states for Khan’s removal. The ballot will be conducted secretly, and its outcome remains uncertain.
The allegations center on accusations from a junior ICC staff member, identified only as Sarah, who publicly stated that Khan engaged in a non-consensual sexual relationship with her, citing a significant power imbalance. Khan’s legal representatives have dismissed the claims, denying any sexual relationship and describing the decision to proceed to a vote as unlawful and lacking evidentiary basis. They referenced a review by a panel of independent judges which found insufficient evidence to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
The controversy has deepened existing tensions within the ICC’s governing bodies and its member states, exposing fractures amid broader geopolitical challenges. The United States, which is not a party to the court, recently intensified diplomatic efforts to undermine the ICC, describing it as a threat to U.S. sovereignty. Washington has imposed sanctions on 11 top ICC officials and has signaled that all diplomatic options, including pressuring member states to withdraw, remain under consideration.
The ICC’s outreach against former Israeli officials for alleged war crimes in Gaza, a case that has prompted strong rejection from Israel, has added a political dimension to the debate surrounding Khan’s position. Critics of the court see the vote as potentially influenced by these developments, although officials involved in the internal investigation have argued for Khan’s dismissal on grounds of serious misconduct.
Should Khan be removed, the ICC will initiate a lengthy process to elect a new prosecutor, with a replacement unlikely to take office before 2027. If he remains, his authority could be significantly diminished, offering ammunition to the court’s detractors.
The ICC, established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity, functions with jurisdiction over member countries unwilling or unable to prosecute atrocities themselves. With 125 member states, the court’s legitimacy is central to international justice efforts. The European Union has reaffirmed its support for the ICC, condemning threats against the institution and its officials, though concrete protective measures have yet to materialize.
Human rights groups, including the International Federation for Human Rights, have condemned the recent U.S.-led campaign against the ICC as the most significant challenge to the court’s existence to date. “States created the ICC together; they now have the opportunity – and the responsibility – to defend it together,” said the group’s secretary-general, Drissa Traore.