In brief
Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has agreed to a temporary leave as an inquiry into sexual misconduct allegations unfolds.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed that its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, will take a leave of absence following the emergence of allegations of sexual misconduct against him. This decision aligns with the ongoing investigation into the accusations, which Khan has consistently denied.Khan, who has played a pivotal role in obtaining arrest warrants for high-profile leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin, communicated his decision to step back from his position to the court’s press office on Friday. The allegations against him surfaced last year, with a report from The Daily Mail indicating that a female colleague had accused him of harassment. Further reports suggested efforts by Khan to suppress these claims.Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Khan has publicly denied both the claims of harassment and any attempt to cover them up. He has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation process, which the ICC announced in late November was being conducted independently to ensure impartiality and fairness.In recent days, the pressure on Khan to step down has increased following a Wall Street Journal article that cited new testimony to U.N. officials, alleging that he forced the accuser into non-consensual sexual intercourse. Khan's legal representatives have firmly rejected these allegations, reiterating his denial of any wrongdoing as the investigation continues.
