Khan, 50, currently leads a UN group that investigates war crimes attributed to Islamic State. He is a well-known figure on the international legal scene in The Hague, where he is known for his skills in litigation, and has served over the years in both defense and prosecution.
The evaluation committee, which examined candidates for the position of prosecutor, described Mr. Khan as “a charismatic and articulate communicator who is well aware of his achievements”.
He became known in The Hague by his prominent clients, among them Saif el-Qaddafi, son of the Libyan dictator. When Mr. Khan was appointed to serve as a court-appointed lawyer for Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia accused of terrorism, murder, rape and other war crimes, Mr. Taylor dismissed him by sending Mr. Khan out of court.
“You can’t just get up and waltz out of here,” said the presiding judge angrily as Khan headed for the door. “You are really bordering on contempt.”
Given Mr. Khan’s previous role as a defense lawyer “in several cases before the ICC,” the chances are “considerable” that he will have to withdraw from several cases, the committee noted.
Perhaps his most contentious case involved the defense of Kenya’s Vice President William Ruto, who was charged with crimes against humanity during the post-election violence in 2007. ICC judges declared the trial annulled because of “a worrying incidence of witness interference and intolerable political interference “Kenyan officials. Mr. Khan was not charged with any wrongdoing, but the court accused three Kenyans of “tampering with witnesses” in the case.
Mr. Khan’s predecessors, Ms. Bensouda and Luis Moreno Ocampo, were appointed by consensus. But this time, several countries and civil society groups, in search of a more transparent and competitive selection process, created a special commission to interview the candidates.