ICC Removes Prosecutor Karim Khan After Vote by States Parties

Overview

• The Assembly of States Parties voted on Friday, July 24, 2026, to remove Karim Khan from the office of chief prosecutor with 82 of 125 votes in favor after a secret ballot at UN headquarters in New York.
• A long investigation involving UN oversight investigators and the court's executive body concluded Khan committed 'grave misconduct' toward a subordinate, while a separate panel of three independent judges had earlier found the facts did not meet the legal threshold for misconduct.
• Khan denies the accusations and his lawyer, Tayab Ali, said he will challenge the removal in court, arguing the process was procedurally unfair and that his team was prevented from full participation in the Assembly's deliberations.
• The removal creates an immediate leadership gap for the Hague‑based court as existing arrest warrants and active probes — including cases that led to warrants for high‑profile leaders — remain in force and require uninterrupted prosecutorial oversight.
• The case intensifies scrutiny of the court's credibility and independence, fuels political pressure from non‑member states that have targeted the ICC, and could reshape how member states oversee ethics and accountability at the institution.