International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan was dismissed

The decision was taken by simple majority in a closed-door vote among the 125 members of the Assembly of States Parties to dismiss Khan, who had been elected by Member States to serve a nine-year term as the court’s prosecutor in 2021.

“The Assembly has decided by a majority of 82 States Parties that…prosecutor Karim Kahn committed serious acts and a serious breach of duty…and to dismiss [him] from the office,” the Assembly president announced, calling for dignity and privacy for all involved.

The ICC, which has a cooperation agreement with the UN, has issued several high-profile arrest warrants in recent years, including against Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023 and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2023. 2024.

The ICC panel will soon be tasked with selecting a new prosecutor.

Watch the ICC regulatory body’s announcement here:

Beliefs and limitations

Since it was founded in 2002 by the landmark Rome StatuteThe ICC has set international standards for prosecuting the world’s most serious crimes, with seven beliefs and the current map 34 cases.

The court cannot decide arrest without State support, especially its 125 members.

Not all countries have joined, including Israel and the United States, which both signed the Rome Statute in 2000, but have not yet ratified it.

In 2025, Washington imposed sanctions on nine ICC personnel, including judges, prosecutors, and deputy prosecutors, in connection with investigations into alleged war crimes against Israel and the United States.

Timeline of alleged violations

Allegations of misconduct were made against Mr Khan in 2024.

• In November 2024, the ICC request an external investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS)
• In May 2025, Khan announced he was on leave pending the OIOS investigation while the ICC deputy prosecutor assumed leadership of the Prosecutor’s Office.
• In March 2026, the Assembly accepted conclusion from a panel of judicial experts
• In June, the ICC Chamber’s assessment was based on the OIOS report, the underlying evidence, advice from a panel of judicial experts and written submissions.
• At his meeting in June 8The Bureau, by a qualified majority, referred the disciplinary proceedings to the Assembly, decided to immediately suspend the prosecutor from his duties pending the final decision and decided to convene a special hearing

What is ICC?

ICC is a criminal courts that can bring cases against individuals for war crimes or crimes against humanity.

Created with “millions of children, women and men” in mind who “have been victims of unimaginable atrocities that shock the conscience of humanity,” the world’s first permanent international criminal court based on a treaty investigates and prosecutes perpetrators of crimes. crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, and crimes of aggression.

The courts do not replace national courts. This is a court of last resort. The state has the primary responsibility to investigate, prosecute and punish perpetrators of the most serious crimes.

Read our full explanation Here.