Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor and former lawyer for President William Ruto during the 2007 post-election violence cases, has temporarily stepped aside while a United Nations investigation into alleged sexual misconduct nears completion.
Khan, a British lawyer, remains on leave as the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services completes its probe. The ICC currently has no formal procedure to replace a sitting prosecutor in such circumstances, making this a rare and serious development. The court is already under international scrutiny, particularly from the United States, due to its arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
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⚖️ Khan Denies Allegations
Khan’s legal team at Carter-Ruck denied all wrongdoing. They emphasized that he has not resigned and remains the ICC prosecutor, stepping aside temporarily due to intense media attention that hindered his work.
In a letter to ICC staff, Khan stated:
“In light of escalating media reports, I have made the considered decision to take leave,”
explaining that the move was intended to protect the credibility of the court and ensure fairness in the investigation.
📣 Human Rights Groups Respond
Khan’s decision to step aside has been welcomed by human rights organizations. Danya Chaikel of FIDH noted it restores public trust in the ICC and honors the voices of alleged victims and whistleblowers.
Alix Vuillemin from the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice added that temporarily removing a leader accused of contributing to a toxic workplace may strengthen the office’s performance and integrity.
🌍 High-Profile ICC Work Under Khan
During his tenure, Khan led investigations into alleged war crimes in Gaza and crimes during Russia’s war in Ukraine. The ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which both countries rejected.
Khan also faced U.S. sanctions under former President Donald Trump due to ICC investigations into Israel, which the court stated threatened its stability.
🕵️ Investigation Update
Sources told Reuters that Khan has recently spoken with UN investigators, suggesting the probe, which started in December 2024, is in its final stages. The release date of the final report remains unclear.
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