Justice Process Must Be Upheld in ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Case

This opinion piece by Sareta Ashraph, legal counsel for ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan, argues that the Judicial Panel’s exoneration of Khan must be respected despite political pressure. Khan faced allegations of misconduct and abuse of authority investigated by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). The Judicial Panel, established by the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) Bureau, unanimously concluded that OIOS findings did not establish misconduct or breach of duty, citing a lack of corroborating witnesses and serious doubts in the evidence. However, the ASP Bureau subsequently circulated a misleading summary of the OIOS report, implying conclusive findings of sexual misconduct, which was then leaked. Ashraph criticizes this action and notes that organizations previously calling for independent legal assessment are now urging the Bureau to disregard the Panel’s unanimous conclusion. She contends that discarding the judicial process because it is inconvenient for certain parties undermines the rule of law and institutional credibility. The article emphasizes the importance of adhering to due process and accepting the Judicial Panel’s reasoned analysis, which found the evidence insufficient to meet even lower standards of proof.