British barrister Karim Khan has challenged his suspension as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), arguing that the decision violated the court's own procedures and
lacked legal justification.
Speaking to Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya TV on Friday through an interpreter, Khan said the ICC's executive bureau acted improperly when it suspended him. The interview marked his first public comments since diplomats overseeing the court decided to remove him from his post pending further action.
"Unfortunately, the court's bureau violated procedures, and what happened was astonishing, unjustified and unlawful," Khan said.
According to documents reviewed by Reuters, the executive bureau's decision was based on findings that Khan had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior staff member.
Khan rejected the allegations and repeated arguments previously made by his legal team, saying that an independent panel of external judges found there was not enough evidence to establish the claims beyond a reasonable doubt. He accused the bureau of disregarding those findings when reaching its decision.
The bureau's recommendation will now be presented to the ICC's 125-member Assembly of States Parties, which is scheduled to vote on Khan's future during a meeting in New York on July 24 (фото-Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken/wikimedia).
