ALBAWABA — The International Criminal Court's (ICC) member states will vote on Friday to decide whether to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from his position in response to claims of sexual misconduct. This decision might have a big impact on the court's reputation and leadership.
The 56-year-old Khan has refuted the accusations, and his legal team insists that the procedures are illegal, faulty in terms of procedure, and unsupported by evidence.
The vote coincides with increased political pressure on the ICC, especially from the US, which has consistently denounced the court and disputed its authority to hear cases involving US officials.
Khan's supporters point to his pursuit of arrest warrants for key Israeli officials over alleged war crimes in Gaza as evidence that any decision to fire him may be seen as politically motivated. Israel, a non-ICC member, has dismissed the warrants as invalid and denied the claims.
Even if Khan stays in office, many predict that the scandal will undermine his authority and lead to further criticism of the court, which was founded in 2002 to investigate war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stepped up Washington's criticism of the ICC during a visit to the Philippines on Thursday, stating that no American military or government officer should ever be prosecuted by the court. Due to the court's actions regarding Israeli officials and an earlier inquiry of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, the United States, a non-member of the ICC, has already sanctioned 11 ICC judges and prosecutors, including Khan.
Officials in the ICC's governing body feel Khan should be fired for allegedly breaking workplace regulations by having an improper sexual contact with a junior employee, according to papers obtained by Reuters. Khan has refuted any wrongdoing.
At least 63 of the 125 member states of the court must vote in favor of the removal in a secret ballot held at the UN headquarters in New York for it to become effective. Later on Friday, the results are anticipated.
