Karim Khan defends himself against accusations: external examination initiated!

Karim Khan defends himself against accusations: external examination initiated!

Karim Khan defends himself against allegations and remains in office.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is under pressure! The governing body has officially launched an “external investigation” into serious allegations of sexual misconduct against its chief prosecutor Karim Khan. In an explosive statement, Paivi Kaukoranta, President of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), called on all parties to cooperate fully to ensure an independent and fair process.

Khan, who vehemently denies the allegations, remains in office despite the ongoing investigations. "I welcome the opportunity to take part in this process," said the 54-year-old and emphasized that he would continue to perform all other functions as an accuser. The ASP had already confirmed last month that it was checking the allegations against Khan due to a third party report.

The background of the allegations

The independent supervisory unit (IOM) of the ICC had learned about the incident in May, but the supposedly affected person refused to submit a formal complaint. According to the IOM report, the person did not want to confirm or deny what was reported. Khan sees the allegations as part of a targeted disinformation campaign against his official business and explained: "I and the ICC are exposed to a variety of attacks and threats."

Since 2021, Khan has led the court's prosecutions, including war crimes related to Russia and Ukraine and the Palestine-Israel conflict. Particularly explosive: In May he applied for arrest warrants against high-ranking Israeli politicians, which caused an international stir. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “moral outrage of historic proportions,” while U.S. President Joe Biden called the decision “outrageous.” Khan had also obtained an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin, which led to counter-action against him.