国际刑事法院首席检察官卡里姆·汗面临前所未有的罢免危机。由125个国家组成的国际刑事法院成员国大会将在纽约进行秘密投票，决定是否永久罢免这位56岁的英国律师[1][2]。
汗被指控与女性助手存在不当性关系并试图阻止她提出指控[2]。他对所有指控予以坚决否认[1]。国际刑事法院执委会已于6月认定他犯有"严重职责失职和严重不当行为"，并正式免除其职务[1]。此外，英国律师协会已暂停他的执业资格，待调查完成[1]。
由于遭美国制裁，汗被禁止进入美国，因此无法出席这场闭门会议[1]。投票只需多数票支持即可通过罢免决议[1][2]。
目前，荷兰和法国已公开表示将投票支持罢免汗[2]。荷兰外长汤姆·贝伦森在致议会信函中明确表示荷兰的立场[1]。前欧盟外交政策主管何塞普·博雷尔在评论中称这些指控是针对汗的阴谋[2]，而前人权观察执行主任肯尼思·罗思则表示汗"显然"缺乏继续担任检察官的"道德权威和可信度"[2]。
这场丑闻与国际刑事法院对加沙冲突的调查相互交织，该法院已于2024年对以色列总理内塔尼亚胡和前国防部长加兰特发出逮捕令[1]，引发了广泛的国际政治考量。这场旷日持久的争议已在国际刑事法院内部引发分裂，威胁到该机构的公信力和团结[2]。
The Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court, comprising 125 nations, will hold a secret ballot to decide whether to permanently remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office. [1][2] Khan, a 56-year-old British lawyer, faces allegations of sexual harassment involving a female staff member, which he categorically denies. [1][2]
Khan was formally suspended from his position in June after the court's Executive Committee determined he had committed "serious misconduct and serious failure in the performance of his duties." [1][2] The allegations include claims that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a female assistant and attempted to obstruct her from filing a complaint. [2] His suspension has triggered an unprecedented crisis within the institution, fracturing the court's unity and threatening its credibility. [2]
The removal will require a majority vote among member states. [1][2] However, Khan will be unable to attend the closed-door proceedings in New York due to US sanctions that prohibit his entry to the United States. [1]
Among member states, the Netherlands has publicly committed to voting for Khan's removal, with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen stating the position in a letter to parliament. [1] France has also indicated it will support his removal. [2]
Khan's professional standing has already been affected, as the Law Society of England and Wales has suspended his practicing credentials pending the completion of investigations. [1]
The vote comes amid broader international political considerations surrounding the ICC's 2024 issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. [1] Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has characterized the allegations against Khan as a conspiracy, [2] while former Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth stated Khan "clearly" lacks the "moral authority and credibility" to continue as prosecutor. [2] The Trump administration has reportedly sought to further undermine the 24-year-old institution. [2]