THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor, Karim Khan, has been suspended from duty pending a final decision by member states as he faces allegations of sexual abuse involving a member of his office.
The decision was announced on Monday by the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the ICC’s governing body, which voted by qualified majority to suspend Khan with immediate effect while the matter is considered by the court’s full membership.
“The bureau emphasises that this suspension is not an indication of the final outcome,” the ASP said in a statement.
The 21-member bureau resolved to refer the matter to the wider Assembly of States Parties, which comprises representatives from all countries that are members of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.
A special session of the Assembly is expected to be convened to deliberate on the allegations and determine Khan’s future.
The suspension is unlikely to significantly affect the court’s day-to-day operations because Khan, 55, has been on leave since May 2025 while contesting the allegations, which he has consistently denied.
The British lawyer has already been removed from participating in proceedings involving former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, one of the ICC’s most closely watched cases.
Khan has been one of the most prominent figures in international justice in recent years. He drew global attention after seeking arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes linked to the Gaza conflict.
The move sparked strong reactions internationally and contributed to tensions between the ICC and several governments. Khan was among individuals sanctioned by the United States following the court’s actions against Israeli leaders.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, was established to prosecute individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression when national jurisdictions are unwilling or unable to do so.
The suspension of the court’s top prosecutor comes at a sensitive moment for the institution as it continues to handle high-profile investigations and prosecutions involving world leaders and major international conflicts.
The Assembly of States Parties is expected to provide further direction on the matter once it convenes to consider the case.