British lawyers’ body suspends ICC Prosecutor Khan over misconduct claim

Britain’s independent watchdog for lawyers has suspended the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Bar Standards Board (BSB) said the suspension was effective immediately. The move comes just a week after the ICC suspended Khan, who has led numerous high-profile prosecutions of senior figures in the conflicts in Sudan, Russia and the Middle East.

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The 56-year-old prosecutor faces allegations of sexual misconduct with a female aide. The accusation was first reported more than two years ago. Khan has denied any wrongdoing.

“The interim suspension must now be considered by an Interim Suspension Panel at a hearing within the next four weeks,” the BSB update read.

Two coworkers initially brought allegations of misconduct against Khan to the ICC’s watchdog, but an initial investigation was closed after the woman involved in the claim declined to make a formal complaint, saying she feared retaliation.

The accusation came as Khan sought arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. In response, the United States, which does not recognise the ICC, sanctioned 11 of its staff, including Khan, revoking their US visas and blocking their bank accounts.

On June 8, the ICC’s executive committee suspended Khan after an investigation found he engaged in “serious misconduct ” and a “serious breach of duty”.

Khan’s lawyers rejected the ICC’s decision and have pledged to challenge the decision.

Khan had temporarily stepped down from his position since May 2025 pending the outcome of a separate, external inquiry launched by the United Nations’ Office of Internal Oversight Service.

In April, the UN investigators found that Khan had “nonconsensual contact” with his aide in “his office, at his private residence” and while on a mission, according to reporting by The Associated Press.

However, a three-judge panel selected by the ICC’s oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties (ASP), to conduct a legal assessment of the report rejected it.

The UN investigators had “failed to indicate which witnesses’ testimony they found credible” and “did not resolve narrative inconsistencies,” the judges wrote.

‌The ICC ⁠has scheduled a vote on whether ⁠to remove Khan from ⁠office for July 24, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing diplomats and documents. Al Jazeera was unable to immediately verify the report.