The Hague: Europe and the Arabs

Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has been suspended from his duties with immediate effect following allegations of sexual misconduct. Khan denies all the charges.

The decision was made yesterday by the Assembly of States Parties, the body responsible for overseeing the court's internal workings. According to the Assembly, it followed an internal investigation and consultation with a panel of legal experts. This was reported by Belgian media outlets in Brussels this morning, Tuesday, including the daily newspaper Nieuwsblad, citing the Belgian news agency Belga.

The investigation reportedly revealed that Khan attempted to sexually harass a female court employee without her consent for over a year. These allegations date back to 2024. According to the Associated Press, he is also alleged to have touched the woman against her will and engaged in non-consensual sexual acts with her.

Khan had temporarily stepped down in May 2025. The findings of the Commission of Inquiry into Crimes Against Humanity are now being shared with all states party to the ICC, which will subsequently vote on his potential permanent resignation. Under Khan's leadership, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in recent years for prominent figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The United States, Russia, and Israel do not recognize the court's jurisdiction or are not parties to the Rome Statute. The United States imposed new sanctions on several of the court's judges last year. The court is based in The Hague, Netherlands, and is an international court affiliated with the United Nations.