Karim Khan, essentially the most senior prosecutor on the Worldwide Prison Court docket (ICC), has denied allegations of sexual misconduct and referred to as for a right away investigation.
He introduced in a press release that he had requested the Worldwide Prison Court docket’s watchdog, the Impartial Oversight Mechanism (IOM), to analyze.
He additionally stated he had requested an investigation into obvious “false info” associated to the case.
This follows current media experiences citing a doc outlining the allegations towards Mr Khan. It’s understood the habits included undesirable sexual contact and “abuse”.
Mr Khan has denied the claims and stated he would cooperate totally with the investigation.
The Worldwide Prison Court docket has been underneath intense scrutiny after prosecutors requested arrest warrants associated to the battle in Gaza.
The event comes after the president of the ICC Meeting of States Events (ASP) – the courtroom’s governing oversight and legislative physique – revealed final week that the Worldwide Group for Migration had contacted the alleged victims however stated it was unable to proceed. investigation.
The feminine lawyer, who was sexually harassed by Mr Khan over a protracted time period and in numerous places, expressed considerations in regards to the IOM’s capabilities and was not given ample alternatives for unbiased investigators to analyze the matter, The Guardian reported. factor.
ASP President Paivi Kaukoranta cited the IOM’s 2023-2024 annual report, which states, “After talking with the alleged victims, the IOM is unable to conduct an investigation at this stage. It is strongly recommended that measures be taken to safeguard everybody’s rights.”
In an earlier assertion, Mr Khan stopped in need of explicitly blaming Israel however did juxtapose sexual misconduct allegations with efforts to undermine his standing, describing the second as “a second when myself and the ICC are underneath widespread assault.” time”. and threats”.
However it’s understood the sexual misconduct allegations predate the date he requested an arrest warrant associated to the battle in Gaza.
A panel of three ICC judges is presently contemplating Mr Khan’s request to situation arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on suspicion of struggle crimes and counterinsurgency in Gaza. Human sin.
The Court docket of Remaining Enchantment was established to cope with essentially the most heinous worldwide crimes, when states are unable or unwilling to prosecute high-level people accused of committing atrocities.
Mr Khan stated he was “deeply saddened” to be taught the allegations can be “made public” and that “the claims of such misconduct are usually not true”.
These critical allegations enter the general public area at a delicate time for the Worldwide Prison Court docket.
The Worldwide Prison Court docket, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, now faces an unprecedented disaster, with an inner dispute over its dealing with of the costs intensifying and the courtroom’s critics apparently searching for to politicize them.
Kaucoranta stated the ICC has a “zero-tolerance coverage” towards prohibited conduct akin to harassment (together with sexual harassment), discrimination and abuse of energy, and that she stays “in touch with all people concerned to make sure everybody’s rights proceed protected”.
