Travel subsidy scheme said to boost post-flood tourism in the north

[Social Media]

 

Karim Khan KC, the British chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), has been accused of misconduct following claims of harassment involving a female colleague. Khan, who is responsible for prosecuting war criminals, faced public scrutiny after requesting arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes against humanity in Gaza. The move, which took place in May, provoked outrage, with U.S.

 

President Joe Biden calling it "outrageous" and then-British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deeming it "deeply unhelpful."

While Khan's controversial arrest warrant requests stirred international tensions, the prosecutor was already facing internal challenges. It has been revealed that, just two weeks before his announcement, Khan, 54, was subject to an internal inquiry at the ICC in The Hague.

 

A female court official reportedly raised concerns about Khan’s conduct, telling a colleague about her distress. Though the woman did not file a formal complaint and declined to either confirm or deny the account, the ICC’s Independent Oversight Mechanism (IOM) did not initiate a formal investigation. Instead, the IOM suggested measures to protect the rights of all parties involved.

 

Khan strongly denied any misconduct, describing the situation as part of a smear campaign. "I absolutely can confirm there is no truth to suggestions of misconduct," he stated. He also emphasized the broader context in which both he and the ICC have been under "a wide range of attacks and threats," noting that his family has also been targeted in recent months. Khan added, "Where there are any types of reports of this nature, it is essential that they are thoroughly listened to, examined, and subjected to a proper process."

 

The ICC's IOM released its annual report on Friday, briefly referencing a case in which an elected official allegedly breached harassment rules, although it did not name Khan. The report confirmed that the alleged victim declined to pursue a formal investigation but noted the potential for the case to be referred to an external body if necessary.

 

Khan, a father of two, became the first Briton to hold the high-profile ICC prosecutor role in 2021. He has handled several major cases, including the ICC’s arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023, which led the Kremlin to place Khan on its "wanted" list. However, his May 20 announcement seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, and Hamas leaders like Yahiya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh generated significant backlash. Netanyahu labeled the request a "moral outrage of historic proportions," while Gallant called it "despicable."

 

The announcement caused further political division in the U.K., with the Conservative government launching a legal challenge against the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israeli citizens. Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's administration decided not to oppose Khan’s request, asserting that the matter was for the courts to decide—a position that was condemned by Jewish organizations in Britain.

 

Despite the harassment allegations against Khan and the widespread controversy over his actions in office, no formal charges or investigations have been initiated. Khan reiterated his commitment to cooperating with the IOM if requested and expressed support for victims of harassment, encouraging them to speak out. Reflecting on his 30 years of work across the globe, Khan noted that no previous complaints of this nature have ever been made against him. "I stand with any victim of sexual harassment or abuse and would encourage all survivors to raise their voice," he stated in his defense, reaffirming his long-standing advocacy for a proactive approach on these issues.

 

Based on a report from the Daily Mail 2024-10-22