LONDON — International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has been temporarily suspended from practicing law in England and Wales by the United Kingdom’s Bar Standards Board while disciplinary proceedings related to sexual misconduct allegations continue, according to the British regulator and court officials.
The interim suspension, announced on Friday, follows a separate decision earlier this month by the ICC’s governing body to suspend Khan from his duties pending further action by the court’s member states. The measures stem from an investigation into allegations that Khan engaged in non-consensual sexual conduct with a staff member. Khan has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The Bar Standards Board, which regulates barristers in England and Wales, said the suspension was imposed on an interim basis and would be reviewed within four weeks. Details of the disciplinary proceedings remain limited, and the regulator has not publicly disclosed the full evidence underlying its decision.
According to Reuters, the allegations were examined during an investigation commissioned through United Nations oversight mechanisms and reviewed by bodies connected to the ICC’s governance structure. A diplomatic source briefed on the matter said the ICC’s executive bureau concluded Khan had committed serious misconduct and recommended his removal from office, though the court has not publicly released the underlying findings.
Khan’s legal team has challenged the disciplinary actions. In a statement cited by multiple media outlets, his lawyers said: “The decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence.” Khan has maintained that he did not engage in misconduct and has described aspects of the process as politically influenced.
The case has created an unprecedented situation for the ICC, where Khan has served as chief prosecutor since 2021. During his tenure, he has overseen investigations into conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan and the Palestinian territories and sought high-profile arrest warrants, including against Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli leaders.
The ICC’s governing body suspended Khan on June 8 following an 18-month inquiry into the allegations. Court officials emphasized at the time that the suspension did not represent a final determination of wrongdoing. Deputy prosecutors have continued to oversee the court’s operations during Khan’s absence.
A special session of the Assembly of States Parties, which represents the ICC’s 125 member countries, is scheduled for July 24 to consider Khan’s future. As of Friday, no final decision had been made on whether he will be permanently removed from office, and the disciplinary proceedings in both the ICC and the United Kingdom remained ongoing.
