Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), is under scrutiny after allegedly trying to suppress a formal complaint of sexual misconduct against him by persuading the accuser to deny her claims. According to multiple ICC sources, Khan and a close associate repeatedly pressured the alleged victim to retract her allegations of inappropriate behavior. The Guardian reports that these attempts to dissuade the woman from formally pursuing her claims took place through phone calls and in-person meetings after Khan learned that court authorities were aware of the complaint.

 

Sources reveal that, at the time, Khan had been advised to avoid one-on-one contact with the accuser following an aborted internal investigation. Allegations against Khan include unwanted sexual advances and an alleged incident in which he “pressed his tongue” into the woman’s ear. Khan, 54, denies these accusations.

 

Four ICC staff members aware of the allegations describe them as involving coercive sexual behavior and abuse of authority. The Guardian’s investigation, which includes interviews with 11 current and former ICC officials as well as diplomatic sources and friends of the alleged victim, suggests that the accuser has suffered significant emotional trauma from these events. To protect her privacy, none of the sources revealed their identities. The sources claim the accuser is now experiencing “severe emotional distress” as a result of the situation.

 

The ICC itself is now facing a severe crisis, as internal divisions over the handling of these allegations are surfacing, along with attempts by opponents of the court to leverage the scandal against it. The accusations reportedly pertain to Khan’s behavior between April 2023 and April 2024, with one source clarifying that this was not a single incident but rather an ongoing pattern of misconduct over several months.

 

The alleged victim reportedly recounted to colleagues a series of escalating incidents, beginning with Khan’s attempts to hold her hand during a work trip to London. According to sources, his advances continued, ultimately involving unwanted physical contact at his office, during overseas work trips, and at his home in The Hague. Three sources confirm that she described specific instances in which Khan allegedly groped her and placed his tongue in her ear. She reportedly tried to make excuses to avoid being alone with him but faced professional repercussions as a result.

 

An ICC document outlining the allegations indicates that her efforts to distance herself led to negative workplace consequences, further complicating her position. Last week, the ICC staff union called for an “independent investigation led by an external panel free from any potential conflict of interest.” Khan responded, expressing willingness to cooperate with any new inquiry.

 

On Friday, the Associated Press reported that the alleged victim is now in communication with the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), the ICC’s governing body responsible for decisions on Khan’s position. A diplomatic source indicated that the ASP has not yet initiated a formal investigation. As ICC judges weigh high-stakes cases, including a politically sensitive request from Khan to issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes in Gaza, the unfolding allegations cast a shadow over the court’s leadership and its future stability.

 

Based on a report from the Guardian 2024-10-29

 

 

 

The Wrath of Khan?

Poor woman.

Khan, a Muslim.  Now you know why ICC ruled against Israel.  The West sleepwalking to disaster. 

I smell the grubby hands of putin and netanyahu in this somewhere, so they can both travel unimpeded.