Two women who have accused Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), of sexual abuse have spoken publicly about their allegations against the prominent British lawyer.
In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Thursday, an ICC staff member identified only by her first name, Sarah, spoke out for the first time about her claims, which have shaken the court over the past two years.
Sarah, a lawyer who worked directly for Khan, described his behavior as “an escalation of attempts.” She said, “It was like slowly crossing boundaries—not just physically, but emotionally as well.”
She alleged that during an official visit to Colombia, Khan entered her hotel room. As she pretended to be asleep, she said he “started to put his hand down my leggings, to grope me, to put his tongue in my ear.” Khan has denied the allegations.
A second woman, referred to by the pseudonym Patricia, also spoke to Amanpour, though her face was hidden. Patricia, who first came forward to the Guardian last year, worked for Khan earlier in his career.
She said that while working as an intern in 2009, she was required to work at his home. She alleged that “without fail, every time I was there, it was a constant onslaught of him coming on to me, groping me, grabbing me, kissing my face, touching my hair, trying to get me to engage in intimate activity with him.”
One of Khan’s lawyers, Sareta Ashraph, said the allegations from both women were not new and that Khan continues to deny the claims “in their entirety.” Speaking to Amanpour, she said, “The complete evidential picture paints a far different picture than what has been presented here today.”
The interviews come at a critical time for both Khan and the ICC. Next week, the court’s member states will meet at the UN headquarters in New York for an unprecedented vote on whether to remove the prosecutor from office.
Last month, the executive committee of the ICC’s governing body suspended Khan after concluding that he had committed serious misconduct related to the sexual abuse claims involving Sarah. It referred the matter to the court’s 125 member states to decide his future.
Lawyers for the chief prosecutor have argued that the disciplinary process against him is politically motivated and “procedurally unfair.”
Ashraph said, “This media appearance comes a week before the vote on July 24. The evidence and testimony presented here are already before the states, along with a huge amount of other relevant information that has not been shown on this CNN program.”
Khan was elected in 2021 to serve a nine-year term leading the court’s prosecution division, which investigates and brings to trial individuals accused of atrocities.
Sarah, who is 39, served as Khan’s direct special assistant from 2023 to 2024. She is from Malaysia and worked as an ICC staff member for several years before joining Khan’s top team.
The chief prosecutor’s tenure at the court of last resort was thrown into disarray in late 2024 when details of Sarah’s allegations first emerged. Until now, she had remained anonymous.
Khan’s representatives have at times suggested that Sarah’s allegations might be part of a plot by hostile actors to discredit him, as a result of his 2024 decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his then-defense minister.
According to documents seen by the Guardian, the disciplinary process against Khan found no evidence to support claims that Sarah was “being used by third parties, including intelligence agencies.”
In her interview with Amanpour, Sarah—who is Muslim and remains an ICC employee—said, “If there was ever even a hint of suspicion that I was a state agent of any kind, I would have been dismissed.”
She added, “My complaint was because of what happened to me.”me, not for any other reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the situation you described covering the basics legal context and potential implications
General Background Questions
Q What is this about
A An ICC staff member has publicly alleged that the Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan committed sexual abuse This is a very serious allegation against the head of the Courts prosecutorial office
Q Who is Karim Khan
A He is the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court the person in charge of leading investigations and prosecutions for the worlds most serious crimes
Q Who made the allegation
A The allegation was made by a female ICC staff member who worked closely with Mr Khan Her identity has not been publicly released to protect her
Q What exactly is the staff member accusing Mr Khan of
A She has alleged that Mr Khan subjected her to sexual abuse and sexual misconduct Specific details of the alleged acts have not been officially released but the term sexual abuse implies a serious nonconsensual sexual act
Legal Procedural Questions
Q Has a formal complaint been filed
A Yes The staff member filed a formal complaint with the ICCs internal oversight mechanism
Q What is the ICC doing about this
A The ICCs governing body has said it is taking the matter extremely seriously An external independent investigation has been launched to look into the allegations
Q Is Mr Khan still working
A As of the latest reports he remains in his position as Chief Prosecutor He has denied the allegations He has not been suspended but the situation is evolving
Q Could Mr Khan be prosecuted for this
A Yes in theory As an ICC official he has immunity for official acts but this immunity does not cover serious personal crimes like sexual assault He could be investigated and prosecuted by a national authority or by the ICC itself depending on the outcome of the investigation
Practical Implications Questions
Q Does this affect the ICCs current cases
A
