Sat 27 June 2026:

British barrister Karim Khan on Friday told Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya TV that the decision to suspend him ‌from his role as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) violated court procedures and was unjustified.

“Unfortunately, the court’s bureau violated procedures, and what happened was astonishing, unjustified and unlawful,” ⁠Khan said through an interpreter in his first public comments since his suspension following a decision by diplomats running the ICC’s oversight body.

Documents seen by Reuters showed that the decision by the executive bureau of the oversight body found that the prosecutor had an inappropriate sexual relationship with ‌a ⁠junior staff member.

Khan also reiterated previous comments made by his lawyers that a review by external judges found there was insufficient evidence to prove the ⁠allegations “beyond a reasonable doubt”, which the bureau chose to set aside.

The decision by the executive bureau of the ICC’s ⁠governing body will inform a vote on Khan’s fate by the ICC’s 125-member Assembly of ⁠States Parties in New York on July 24.

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ICC prosecutor Karim Khan suspended over misconduct allegations

International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan was suspended from his duties earlier this month after the court’s oversight body referred him for disciplinary proceedings amid growing pressure.

In a case that has attracted controversy for more than two years, Khan faces allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female aide. He has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

The final decision on the future of the British lawyer now rests with the Assembly of States Parties, the ICC’s governing body, which will hold a special session to determine whether Khan should remain in his position.

The Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties, the executive committee of the court’s oversight body, said in a statement on Monday that its assessment was based “on the report of an investigation undertaken by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the underlying evidence, the advice of an ad hoc Panel of judicial experts, and written submissions.”

According to a copy of the report reviewed by the Associated Press, the UN investigation found evidence that Khan had “non-consensual sexual contact with (the aide) in his office, at his private residence, and whilst on work mission.” However, a three-judge panel selected by the executive committee for a legal assessment of the findings found that the investigation was not conclusive enough.

Khan had temporarily stepped aside from his duties in May 2025 pending the outcome of the investigation.

The measures are unprecedented in the history of the ICC, prompting the Assembly of States Parties to repeatedly introduce new rules to deal with the case.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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