British Lawyers Body Suspends ICC Prosecutor Over Allegations of Misconduct

The International Criminal Court’s Prosecutor Karim Khan has been suspended by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), a UK-based watchdog for lawyers. The suspension took effect immediately, according to a statement issued on Friday.

Khan, 56, is facing allegations of sexual misconduct with a female aide. The accusation was first reported over two years ago and has been the subject of multiple investigations. Khan has denied any wrongdoing.

The BSB’s decision follows an initial investigation by the ICC’s watchdog, which found that Khan had engaged in “serious misconduct” and a “serious breach of duty”. However, the ICC’s executive committee had previously suspended Khan on June 8 after finding similar misconduct.

Khan had temporarily stepped down from his position since May 2025 pending the outcome of an external inquiry launched by the United Nations’ Office of Internal Oversight Service. The UN investigators found that Khan had “nonconsensual contact” with his aide in various locations, but a three-judge panel rejected the report due to concerns about witness testimony and narrative inconsistencies.

The ICC has scheduled a vote on July 24 to determine whether to remove Khan from office.

Source: Al Jazeera