Jump to content

Karim Ahmad Khan: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→Application for charges related to Palestine: rwd to split numbers, lead better into the footnote, "The Hague Invasion Act"
No edit summary
Tags: possible BLP issue or vandalism use of deprecated (unreliable) source
Line 70: Line 70:


Khan was appointed [[Queen's Counsel]] in 2011.<ref>[https://asp.icc-cpi.int/sites/asp/files/asp_docs/Elections/PRO2020/Karim%20Khan-CV-ENG.pdf Karim Khan: Curriculum Vitae]</ref>
Khan was appointed [[Queen's Counsel]] in 2011.<ref>[https://asp.icc-cpi.int/sites/asp/files/asp_docs/Elections/PRO2020/Karim%20Khan-CV-ENG.pdf Karim Khan: Curriculum Vitae]</ref>

== Controveries ==
Although Karim Khan was born in Britain, his activities are controversial in the right-wing press, having been accused of working against the country by helping Kenyans find ways to sue for British colonial rule.<ref>https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/25/kenyan-tribes-suing-uk-for-168000000000-over-colonial-land-theft-17240880/</ref><ref>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11138581/Kenyans-taking-UK-EU-court-colonial-era-abuses.html</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==

Revision as of 03:39, 22 May 2024

Karim Ahmad Khan
KC
Khan in 2022
Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
16 June 2021
PresidentPiotr Hofmański
DeputyMame Mandiaye Niang and Nazhat Shameem
Preceded byFatou Bensouda
Personal details
Born
Karim Asad Ahmad Khan

(1970-03-30) 30 March 1970 (age 54)
Edinburgh, Scotland
RelativesImran Ahmad Khan (brother)
EducationKing's College London (LLB, AKC)
Wolfson College, Oxford

Karim Asad Ahmad Khan KC (born 30 March 1970) is a British lawyer specialising in international criminal law and international human rights law, who has served as Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court since 2021.

After his appointment by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, he served as a United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and acted as Special Adviser and Head of the United Nations Investigative Team to promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Daesh/ISIL in Iraq (UNITAD), which was established in accordance with Security Council resolution 2379 (2017) to support national efforts to hold ISIL (Daesh) accountable for acts that may amount to war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity in Iraq.

In February 2021, Khan was elected the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Education and early career

Karim Ahmad Khan was born in Edinburgh on 30 March 1970.[1][2] He was educated at Silcoates School in West Yorkshire and earned an LLB degree and AKC from King's College London. He was called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln's Inn in 1992. He later attended Wolfson College at Oxford University, studying toward a DPhil in law, although he did not complete the course and does not hold a doctorate. Between 1993 and 1996 Khan was a Crown Prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service of England and Wales, and was appointed a Senior Crown Prosecutor in 1995.[3]

International law career

Between 1997 and 1998, Khan worked as a Legal Officer at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). He later served as Legal Adviser at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) until 2000.[4]

Between 2006 and 2007, Khan was lead defence counsel to former President of Liberia Charles Taylor before the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL).[4][5]

Khan spent several years engaged in leading cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC), International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). In 2008, he was appointed Lead Counsel to former Le Monde journalist Florence Hartmann, who had served as chief spokesperson to ICTY and ICTR prosecutor Carla del Ponte, when she was charged with contempt of court.[citation needed] Between 2008 and 2010, he was engaged as Lead Counsel before the ICC representing Sudanese rebel leader Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, the first ICC suspect to voluntarily surrender to the jurisdiction of the Court.[6] In January 2011, he was instructed as Lead Counsel to represent Francis Muthaura before the ICC in relation to the post-election violence in 2007–2008.[4] He later served as Lead Counsel for Deputy President of Kenya William Ruto before the ICC,[5] and Lead Counsel for Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Fatmir Limaj before the EULEX Court in Kosovo from 2014 until 2017. He also served as the Lead Counsel for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi[5] and Baghdadi Mahmudi at the ICC.[citation needed]

Khan represented a group of Anglophone human rights lawyers charged with terrorism and other offences before the Military Court in Yaoundé, Cameroon, as international counsel from February 2017 until September 2017.[4] He led the team that advised Cham and Albanian communities in relation to their expulsion from Greece, and subsequent expropriation of property after the Second World War. He was lead counsel for a large victims case in Sierra Leone arising out of the ECOMOG intervention in 1999–2002.[citation needed]

Also in 2017, he represented more than 100,000 victim claimants from the Kipsigi and Talai communities in Kenya seeking redress for alleged human rights violations committed during British colonial rule. Khan said that "Certain historical injustices need to be recognized... It's something that I feel very passionately about and it's really worthwhile."[6]

Until June 2021, Khan was based in Baghdad, Iraq, and served as Special Adviser and Head of the United Nations Investigative Team for the Promotion of Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL in Iraq (UNITAD), established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2379 (2017).[7] Khan led the team in achieving its mandate in the collection, storage, and preservation of evidence related to crimes committed by Da'esh/ISIL; the promotion throughout the world of accountability for the crimes committed by Da'esh/ISIL; to work with survivors in recognition of their interest in the achievement of accountability for crimes to which they have been subjected; to respect the sovereignty of the Government of Iraq in performing this investigation.[8][9]

Khan met with government, religious, and community leadership across Iraq as part of his mandate at UNITAD.[10][11][12]

Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court

Khan, European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova in the Hague, Netherlands, 22 July 2022

On 12 February 2021, Khan was elected chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on a nine-year term during the second round of voting, receiving votes from 72 out of 123 member states (62 needed). Khan was the third chief prosecutor elected in the ICC's history, and the first one elected by secret ballot. Khan had been nominated by the United Kingdom.[13][14] He took office in June 2021, replacing the Gambian lawyer Fatou Bensouda.[15][5]

In September 2021, Khan resumed the investigation into crimes committed by the Taliban and the Islamic State in Khorassan in Afghanistan which had been suspended in 2020 at the request of the government of Kabul. He dropped the investigation into the war crimes in Afghanistan committed by international forces, including the United States, in Afghanistan.[5] He also dropped the investigation into the United States' use of in secret CIA prisons in Poland, Romania and Lithuania in the early 2000s where kidnapped prisoners were interrogated and tortured for their alleged membership of the Taliban or Al-Qaida. Khan said the investigations were dropped because of the limited financial means of the ICC.[16]

In April 2022, Khan said of the war in Ukraine: "We have reasonable grounds to believe that crimes within the jurisdiction of the court are being committed."[17] Eleven months later, he applied for two arrest warrants alleging Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova violated two Rome Statute rules against systematic deportation, transfer and hostage-taking.[18] In response, Russia issued a warrant for Khan's arrest.[19]

During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Business Insider reported that a statement by Khan "appeared to suggest" that both Israel and Hamas could be prosecuted by the ICC.[20] According to Khan, the bar for evidence that a hospital, school, or place of worship is being used for military purposes is very high.[21] On 17 November 2023, Khan stated the ICC had received a joint request by South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti to investigate alleged Israeli war crimes.[22] South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor asked Khan why he was able to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Putin, but not for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[23] The Israeli government called emergency meetings over concerns the ICC could be preparing arrest warrants against Netanyahu, other senior officials, or officers of the Israeli Defense Forces. It decided it would reach out to the court and 'diplomatic figures with influence' with the aim of blocking the issuing of arrest warrants. Netanyahu raised the matter in his meetings with Britain's Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and sought their help.[24][25]

On 24 April 2024, Khan was sent a letter signed by 12 Republican U.S. senators[a] threatening him and other UN jurists and their families with personal consequences if the ICC were to seek an international arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu or other members of the Israeli government. The letter cited the American Service-Members' Protection Act – known informally as "The Hague Invasion Act"[27] – which specifically includes "all means".[28][29] The signatories said they would view any arrest warrant as "a threat not only to Israel's sovereignty, but also to the sovereignty of the United States". They threatened: "Target Israel and we will target you", and that any further action would "end all American support for the ICC" and "exclude [Khan and his associates and employees] and their families from the United States". The letter ended: "You have been warned."[30]

On 20 May 2024, Khan applied, on the advice of a panel of ICC-experts that included, among others, Theodor Meron and Amal Clooney, for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. He also applied for arrest warrants for two other Hamas members, Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed al-Masri, and the Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant.[31][32] President of the United States Joe Biden called the application "outrageous", while Netanyahu called Khan one of the "great antisemites in modern times" after the announcement.[33]

Other activities

Between 1996 and 1997, Khan was a member of staff at the Law Commission of England and Wales. He is a life member of the Human Rights Institute, International Bar Association (IBA),[citation needed] and a founding director of the Peace and Justice Initiative,[34] a Hague-based NGO focused on effective implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court at national levels.

Khan served until 2018 as a member of the executive council and the victims committee of the International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA), and he was the president of the ICCBA from June 2017 to June 2018. At the end of his tenure, Khan was appointed the first honorary president of the ICCBA.[35]

Khan was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2011.[36]

Controveries

Although Karim Khan was born in Britain, his activities are controversial in the right-wing press, having been accused of working against the country by helping Kenyans find ways to sue for British colonial rule.[37][38]

Personal life

Khan's father, a consultant dermatologist, was born in Mardan, Pakistan.[39] His mother, a state registered nurse, was born in the United Kingdom.[40] Khan is a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.[41] He was first married to Yasmin Rehman Mona, the daughter of the fourth caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Tahir Ahmad. He is currently married to Dato Shyamala Alagendra, a Malaysian lawyer. He has two sons. He has a sister and two brothers,[39] one of whom is the former British Conservative MP and convicted sex offender Imran Ahmad Khan.[42]

Notes

  1. ^ The letter was signed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky as well as Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Katie Britt of Alabama, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Ted Cruz of Texas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Marco Rubio and Rick Scott of Florida and Tim Scott of South Carolina.[26]

References

  1. ^ "Khan, Karim Asad Ahmad, (born 30 March 1970), QC 2011; barrister; a Recorder, since 2018; Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, since 2021." Who's Who & Who Was Who. 1 Dec. 2011
  2. ^ "British barrister to lead UN probe into ISIS crimes in Iraq". Rudaw. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Karim A. A. Khan KC". Temple Garden Chambers. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d "ICC: New chief prosecutor divides opinions in Africa". Deutsche Welle. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e Simons, Marlise (20 May 2024). "Who Is Karim Khan, the I.C.C. Prosecutor?". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b Migiro, Katy (30 May 2017). "British lawyer shines light on 'dark shadows' of colonial evictions". Reuters. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  7. ^ "S/RES/2379 : UN Documents : Security Council Report". www.securitycouncilreport.org. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Mr. Karim Asad Ahmad Khan of the United Kingdom - Special Adviser of the Investigative Team established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2379 (2017) | United Nations Secretary-General". www.un.org. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  9. ^ "U.N. team, approved a year ago, starts work on Islamic State crimes in Iraq". Reuters. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Mr. Karim A.A. Khan QC, Special Adviser and Head of UNITAD meets with His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani". www.uniraq.org. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  11. ^ "المجمع الفقهي العراقي" [Iraqi Fiqh Council]. www.facebook.com. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  12. ^ "وفد من الأمم المتحدة يزور البطريركية" [A delegation from the United Nations visits the Patriarchate]. البطريركية الكلدانية (in Arabic). Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  13. ^ "British barrister Karim Khan elected ICC's new chief prosecutor". the Guardian. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  14. ^ "British human rights lawyer elected chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court". UN News. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Newly elected ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan QC to be sworn in on 16 June 2021: Practical information". www.icc-cpi.int. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  16. ^ Stéphanie Maupas (28 September 2021). "The ICC prosecutor suspends the investigation into torture in secret CIA prisons". Le Monde. Retrieved 29 September 2021..
  17. ^ "Crime scene' call Court". BBC News. 13 April 2022.
  18. ^ Borger, Julian (13 March 2023). "ICC to issue first arrest warrants linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Russia adds ICC prosecutor who sought Putin's arrest to wanted list". Reuters. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Why Israel's push into Gaza is killing so many children". Business Insider. 31 October 2023.
  21. ^ Khan, Karim (10 November 2023). "We are witnessing a pandemic of inhumanity: to halt the spread, we must cling to the law". The Guardian.
  22. ^ "Israel is committing war crimes in Palestinian territories, five nations charge". The Jerusalem Post. 17 November 2023.
  23. ^ "South Africa alleges Israel violating ruling to prevent Gaza deaths". The Hill. 1 February 2024.
  24. ^ Lazar Berman (19 April 2024). "Netanyahu's office hosts emergency talks on feared ICC warrants for PM, ministers". The Times of Israel. Wikidata Q125585705. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Israel council discusses avoiding ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant, Halevi". Middle East Monitor. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  26. ^ https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000018f-4e0e-d759-a9ff-ff4ee9420000
  27. ^ Taylor, Adam (16 March 2023). "The United States and ICC have an awkward history". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  28. ^ Republican US senators sent threatening letter to ICC prosecutor over possible Netanyahu arrest warrant In: jurist.org, 6. Mai 2024
  29. ^ Anklage gegen Israel: US-Senatoren bedrohen Chefankläger des Strafgerichtshofes In: telepolis.de, 7 May 2024
  30. ^ Republican US senators sent threatening letter to ICC prosecutor over possible Netanyahu arrest warrant In: jurist.org, 6 May 2024
  31. ^ Kingsley, Patrick; Bigg, Matthew Mpoke (20 May 2024). "International Criminal Court Prosecutor Requests Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Leaders". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  32. ^ "Statement of ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC: Applications for arrest warrants in the situation in the State of Palestine". www.icc-cpi.int. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  33. ^ Bowen, Jeremy (21 May 2024). "What ICC arrest warrants mean for Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas". BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  34. ^ "PJI Directors - Peace and Justice Initiative". www.peaceandjusticeinitiative.org. 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  35. ^ "ICCBA-ABCPI | Welcome - Bienvenue". Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  36. ^ Karim Khan: Curriculum Vitae
  37. ^ https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/25/kenyan-tribes-suing-uk-for-168000000000-over-colonial-land-theft-17240880/
  38. ^ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11138581/Kenyans-taking-UK-EU-court-colonial-era-abuses.html
  39. ^ a b "Saeed Ahmad Khan Bernard Hugh Pentney Harry Munro Archibald Roger Cooper Francis Thomas ("Frank") Doleman Malvina ("Malca") Harris Muwaffak Abdul Hussain Andrew Waring Jowett Richard Baillie ("Dick") Laidlaw Frances Elizabeth O'Connor-Wilson (Nee O'Connor) Thomas Richardson Alfred Sands ("Alf") Rogen Thomas Edward Tasker Pauline Jane Watson". BMJ. 314 (7076): 308. 25 January 1997. doi:10.1136/bmj.314.7076.308.
  40. ^ Rehan, Ehsan (1 June 2018). "British-Pakistani lawyer to lead UN investigation against ISIS". Rabwah Times. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  41. ^ Khan, Karim (23 February 2006). "My Life With Hazur" (PDF). Ahlul Bayt Digital Islamic Library Project. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 February 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2006.
  42. ^ Gye, Hugo (18 June 2021). "Conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan faces trial over claim he sexually assaulted a teenage boy". I (newspaper). Retrieved 11 April 2022.
Legal offices
Preceded by Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
2021 - 		Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Karim_Ahmad_Khan&oldid=1225061544"