Qatar Accused of Deploying โขSpies to Discredit Woman Alleging Sexual Harassment Against ICC Prosecutor
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Qatariโ high-ranking diplomatsโฃ allegedly commissioned private intelligence firms to investigate and potentially โdiscredit a woman who accused International Criminalโฃ Court (ICC)โข Prosecutor Karim Khan of sexual harassment and abuse of power, accordingโ to a report โpublished by The Guardian. The operation โreportedly aimed to find a link between โคthe woman and Israel,โ potentially undermining her credibility โas she pursued allegations โคagainst Khan, who has as temporarily stepped โคdown โฃamid a UN investigation.
The privateโ intelligence firm Highgate, in collaboration with at least one other company, was tasked with “tying upโ loose ends” and establishing a connection between the accuser and Israel, โsources familiar with the โfirms’ activitiesโข told The Guardian. The woman, a lawyer in her thirties,โ alleges โcoercive sexual behavior โand abuseโ of power by Khan, includingโข incidents occurring in hotel rooms during businessโ trips, at his ICC office, and his home. she expressed horror at theโ alleged surveillance, โขstating,โข “Theโฃ idea that private intelligence firmsโ have beenโ instructed to target me is as disturbing as it is โhorrific.”
The allegations against โฃKhan prompted his temporary resignation in December 2023, pending a UN investigation. A second woman subsequently came forward in August 2023, alleging mistreatment โฃby Khan during an unpaid internship โขearlier in her career.
Highgate confirmed โฃto The โฃGuardian thatโ itโฃ worked on an ICC-related operation โขbut denied targeting any individual or โขreceiving fundingโ or directionโ fromโฃ the Qatari government. Theโ Qatariโ governmentโข has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
The ICC is currently investigating potential war crimes committed in Gaza, and has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense โฃminister, Yoav Gallant. The timing of โขthe alleged Qatari-backed operation raises questions about potential attempts to influence the โICC’s investigations and deflect scrutinyโ from individuals facing potential prosecution.
