Karim Khan, the most senior prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), has denied allegations of sexual misconduct and called for an immediate investigation.
He announced in a statement that he had asked the International Criminal Court’s watchdog, the Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM), to investigate.
He also said he had requested an investigation into apparent “false information” related to the case.
This follows recent media reports citing a document outlining the allegations against Mr Khan. It is understood the behavior included unwanted sexual contact and “abuse”.
Mr Khan has denied the claims and said he would cooperate fully with the investigation.
The International Criminal Court has been under intense scrutiny after prosecutors requested arrest warrants related to the conflict in Gaza.
The development comes after the president of the ICC Assembly of States Parties (ASP) – the court’s regulatory oversight and legislative body – revealed last week that the International Organization for Migration had contacted the alleged victims but said it was unable to proceed. investigation.
The female lawyer, who was sexually harassed by Mr Khan over a long period of time and in different locations, expressed concerns about the IOM’s capabilities and was not given adequate opportunities for independent investigators to investigate the matter, The Guardian reported. thing.
ASP President Paivi Kaukoranta cited the IOM’s 2023-2024 annual report, which states, “After speaking with the alleged victims, the IOM is unable to conduct an investigation at this stage. It is recommended that measures be taken to safeguard everyone’s rights.”
In an earlier statement, Mr Khan did not explicitly blame Israel but did juxtapose the sexual misconduct allegations with efforts to undermine his standing, describing it as “a moment when myself and the ICC are under widespread attack” and threats”.
But it is understood the sexual misconduct allegations predate the date he requested an arrest warrant related to the conflict in Gaza.
A panel of three ICC judges is currently considering Mr Khan’s request to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on suspicion of war crimes and counterinsurgency in Gaza. Human sin.
The Court of Final Appeal was established to deal with the most heinous international crimes, when states are unable or unwilling to prosecute high-level individuals accused of committing atrocities.
Khan said he was “deeply saddened” to learn the allegations would be “publicized” and that “the claims of such misconduct are not true.”
These serious allegations enter the public domain at a sensitive time for the International Criminal Court.
The International Criminal Court, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, now faces an unprecedented crisis, with internal disputes over its handling of the charges intensifying and the court’s critics apparently seeking to politicize them.
Kaucoranta said the ICC has a “zero-tolerance policy” against prohibited conduct such as harassment (including sexual harassment), discrimination and abuse of power, and that she remains “in contact with all individuals involved to ensure everyone’s rights continue protected”.
