UK Bar Suspends ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, has been suspended from legal practice in England and Wales, escalating a long-running crisis at the world's top war crimes court. The Bar Standards Board, the independent regulator for lawyers, announced the immediate suspension on Friday, June 19, 2026, pending a disciplinary hearing within four weeks.

This action follows Khan's suspension by the ICC's own governing body on June 8, which was based on findings that he had engaged in serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty. The 56-year-old prosecutor faces allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female aide, accusations that first surfaced more than two years ago. Khan has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The allegations were initially brought to the ICC's internal watchdog by two coworkers. An early investigation was closed after the woman involved declined to file a formal complaint, citing fear of retaliation. The ICC later commissioned an external investigation by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services. A summary of that confidential, 18-month inquiry, concluded earlier this year, reportedly found a factual basis for...