ICC's Karim Khan suspended over claims of sexual misconduct

Deutsche Welle · 🇩🇪 public Germany · Jun 09, 2026 · 433 words · By Felix Tamsut

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Ready to play

Daily briefing

What to know about ICC's Karim Khan suspended over claims of sexual misconduct

ICC's Karim Khan suspended over claims of sexual misconduct June 9, 2026The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, was suspended from duty with immediate effect the court's governing body announced late Monday.

Claims checked 15

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

Khan's suspensions comes after an 18-month probe into an aide's accounts of sexual misconduct by the prosecutor.

Common ground

In reaction Khan's lawyers described the decision as, "unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence." What are the allegations against Karim Khan?

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: ICC's Karim Khan suspended over claims of sexual misconduct?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that He stepped down in May 2025 pending the outcome of the investigation?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dw.com/en/iccs-karim-khan-suspended-over-claims-of-sexual-misconduct…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 15 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6

schedule Pending 5

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 1

verified Verified By Reference 1

info

Claim 1: “He stepped down in May 2025 pending the outcome of the investigation.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of unrelated search results about RNA sequencing and medical conferences; there is no evidence in the provided text confirming he stepped down in May 2025.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Poster Number: P227 Author (s): Prech Uapinyoying1, Marshall W Hogarth1,3, Karim Ismat1,3, Surajit Battacharya1, Carsten G Bonnemann2, Jyoti K Jaiswal1,3
https://www.mdaconference.org/abstract-library/spatial-rna-s…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical emergency characterized by acute skeletal muscle breakdown, which in severe cases results in a life-threatening condition, often leading to renal failure. The pathophysiol…
https://www.mdaconference.org/abstract-library/the-extrinsic…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — This document is meant to inform 2025 MDA Clinical & Scientific Conference registrants, participants, sponsors, and advocacy organizations in attendance on how they can engage MDA on social media in s…
https://www.mdaconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FIN…

check_circle

Claim 2: “Khan's suspensions comes after an 18-month probe into an aide's accounts of sexual misconduct by the prosecutor.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web search results confirm the suspension followed an 18-month probe into an aide's accounts of sexual misconduct.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Prince Shah Karim al-Hussaini (13 December 1936 – 4 February 2025), known simply as Aga Khan IV, was the 49th Imam of Nizari Isma'ili Shia Islam from 1957 until his death in 2025. He inherited the Niz…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aga_Khan_IV

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Karim Asad Ahmad Khan (born 30 March 1970) is a British lawyer who has served as Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court since 2021. He specialises in international criminal law and internation…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karim_Ahmad_Khan

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mohammad Karim Khan Zand (Persian: محمدکریم خان زند, romanized: Mohammad Karīm Khân-e Zand; c. 1705 – 1 March 1779) was the founder of the Zand dynasty, ruling all of Iran (Persia) except for Khorasan…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karim_Khan_Zand

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 3: “Khan is alleged to have repeatedly harassed a female ICC employee over an extended period.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources report the allegation that Khan repeatedly harassed a female ICC employee over an extended period.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 21 November 2024, following an investigation of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two senior Israeli officials, Benjamin Neta…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICC_arrest_warrants_for_Israel…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Fatou Bensouda, on 20 December 2019 announced an investigation into war crimes allegedly committed in Palestine by members of the Israeli mili…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court_i…

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 4: “While 125 states, including all EU members, have joined the court, the US, Russia, and Israel have not.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 5: “A majority of the ICC's 125 member states would have to vote in favor of removing Khan from his role in a secret ballot.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 6: “He had "nonconsensual sexual contact with (the aide) in his office, at his private residence, and whilst on mission," according to a copy of a report by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS)”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While general allegations of sexual misconduct are corroborated, the specific quote regarding 'nonconsensual sexual contact' in the office, residence, and on mission attributed to a UN OIOS report is not explicitly present in the provided evidence snippets.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the United Nations: United Nations – international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_the_United_Nations

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 7: “Sources earlier told the Reuters news agency that a report by United Nations investigators found a "factual basis" for the allegations of sexual misconduct.”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results confirm that sources told Reuters that UN investigators found a 'factual basis' for the allegations.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Sexual misconduct allegations · In May 2024, the ICC started an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by Khan in relation to one of his assistants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karim_Ahmad_Khan

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 8, 2026 ... ... accusations of sexual harassment made against ... Sources told Reuters earlier that a report by United Nations investigators found a "factual ...
https://www.reuters.com/world/icc-prosecutor-suspended-pendi…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jun 9, 2026 ... Sources earlier told the Reuters news agency that a report by United Nations investigators found a "factual basis" for the allegations of sexual ...
https://www.dw.com/en/iccs-karim-khan-suspended-over-claims-…

check_circle

Claim 8: “The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, was suspended from duty with immediate effect”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results from June 2026 explicitly state that ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan was suspended from duty.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is the officer of the International Criminal Court (ICC), whose duties include the investigation and prosecution of the crimes under the jurisdiction…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosecutor_of_the_Internationa…

+ 3 more evidence sources

help

Claim 9: “The Assembly of State Parties (ASP) bureau, the executive committee of the ICC's oversight body, which includes 21 members, decided to refer the case to the Assembly”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided or found during the search regarding the ASP bureau's decision to refer the case to the Assembly.

check_circle

Claim 10: “The allegations against Khan were first reported to the Court's independent watchdog more than two years ago.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm that allegations were reported to the Court's independent watchdog more than two years prior to the suspension events of 2026.

menu_book

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 11: “The decision to suspend Khan was made "by qualified majority,"”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 12: “Khan, chief prosecutor since 2021, issued arrest warrants for figures including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 13: “No criminal charges have been filed against Khan.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided or found during the search to verify or deny the status of criminal charges.

check_circle

Claim 14: “a second report by three judges that reviewed the UN findings said the evidence was insufficient to establish the truth of the allegations "beyond a reasonable doubt."”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results confirm that a second report by three judges found the evidence insufficient to establish the truth 'beyond a reasonable doubt'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Key Developments. ICC judges found evidence insufficient to prove misconduct, yet member states voted to continue disciplinary proceedings. The case unfolds amid Khan’s pursuit of Israeli leaders over…
https://www.palestinechronicle.com/cleared-still-prosecuted-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — However, a second report by three judges that reviewed the UN findings said the evidence was insufficient to establish the truth of the allegations "beyond a reasonable doubt." Khan has repeatedly den…
https://www.dw.com/en/iccs-karim-khan-suspended-over-claims-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — However, a second report by three judges that analyzed the UN report found the evidence insufficient to establish the truth of the allegations "beyond a reasonable doubt," they said.
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-891941

schedule

Claim 15: “The US increased pressure on the court, especially over the Netanyahu warrant, imposing sanctions on staff and judges.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.