Member nations of the International Criminal Court are preparing for a secret vote on Friday on whether to permanently remove the global tribunal's embattled chief prosecutor, as concerns emerge about the damage the drawn-out scandal has inflicted on the institution. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
In a saga that has dragged on for more than two years, British barrister Karim Khan has been accused of sexual misconduct with a female aide, as outlined by The Associated Press in a series of stories, allegations which he has steadfastly denied.
The lengthy process has pitted human rights advocates, staff and member states against one another at a time when the court is already facing daunting challenges, including a campaign by the United States to "dismantle" the ICC.
The 56-year-old Khan was formally removed from his duties in June after a report by the executive committee of the court's oversight body found he had committed "serious misconduct." According to documents seen by The Associated Press, Khan engaged in a sexual relationship with the woman and tried to prevent her from pursuing her allegations. Khan disputes those findings.
"There has been splintering over how the court has handled this," Lucy Gaynor, a historian of international criminal tribunals at the University of Amsterdam, told The Associated Press.
Groups that support the court's work have taken diverging positions. Last week, a group of Palestinian organizations issued a public letter, accusing the executive committee of "unwarranted political interference" and said it lacks "the independence, impartiality or legal expertise to make assessments."
In June, the International Federation for Human Rights, Redress and Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice with others said that the victim has been "publicly questioned, instrumentalized, and too readily dismissed as part of a political agenda."
Staff members are also wary of the future. A group within the prosecutor's office sent a letter to the oversight body expressing serious concerns about Khan's potential return, writing that his "leadership has been materially diminished."
Prominent international figures have also been voicing their views. In an opinion piece in Project Syndicate, former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the allegations are a plot against the court. "Khan's enemies have managed to start a debate about his weakening," he said.