Lead

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has voted to remove its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, following an investigation that found he committed serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty. The decision, taken at an emergency session in New York, marks the first time the court has dismissed a chief prosecutor.

According to two sources, ABC Australia and BBC World, the ICC's oversight body concluded that Khan engaged in an improper sexual relationship with a junior staff member and attempted to stop her from pursuing her complaint. Khan, a British barrister who was elected to a nine-year term in 2021, has repeatedly denied all the allegations.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia and BBC World both reported the core facts: the removal vote, the nature of the allegations, and Khan's denial. BBC World also detailed the investigation process and noted that Khan has been suspended from practising law in the UK by the Bar Standards Board, which is conducting its own inquiry. Both outlets mentioned a US campaign against the ICC, but ABC Australia additionally reported that Venezuela has withdrawn from the court, a claim not carried by BBC World.

Key Claims

  • The ICC's Assembly of States Parties, the court's oversight body, voted to dismiss Khan with 82 votes in favour, according to ABC Australia. BBC World reported that the assembly's president, Päivi Kaukoranta, said the body had concluded Khan committed "serious misconduct and serious breach of duty."
  • Khan, who was elected in 2021, was suspended from his duties in June 2025 pending the vote. He has been on voluntary leave since May 2025 to fight the allegations, as reported by ABC Australia.
  • Khan's lawyers have described his suspension as "unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence," according to ABC Australia.
  • The allegations were first reported to the ICC in May 2024 by a third party, and Khan was accused of sexual misconduct with a female aide, BBC World reported.
  • A motion by Sierra Leone that would have made it harder to oust Khan failed early in the session, and diplomats moved to vote on removal several hours ahead of schedule, according to three diplomats familiar with the proceedings, as reported by BBC World.
  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was launching a "sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court to US sovereignty," according to BBC World.
  • ABC Australia reported that Venezuela has withdrawn from the ICC, citing geographical bias. This claim was not reported by BBC World.
  • ABC Australia reported that Khan's removal will have no immediate impact on the arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but this was not mentioned by BBC World.

Perspectives

The process has intensified divisions within the court, which is already facing significant external pressures, according to both outlets. Human rights advocates, staff, and member states have been pitted against one another, as reported by BBC World. The US campaign to dismantle the ICC, framed as a threat to American sovereignty by Secretary Rubio, adds to the court's challenges, as reported by BBC World.