What's happened
Ghanem Al-Masarir, a critic of the Saudi government, was awarded over £3 million after a UK court found Saudi Arabia responsible for hacking his phones with Pegasus spyware and physically attacking him in London. The court ruled the kingdom had no realistic defense, citing its interest in silencing criticism.
What's behind the headline?
The court's ruling marks a significant legal victory for digital rights and accountability. The judgment explicitly links the Saudi government to sophisticated surveillance and physical violence against a critic, highlighting the risks faced by dissidents abroad. This case underscores how authoritarian regimes may use cyber espionage and violence to silence critics, even on foreign soil. The ruling also signals that such tactics can lead to substantial financial liabilities for states, potentially deterring future abuses. The decision to award over £3 million emphasizes the severity of the privacy invasions and physical assault, setting a precedent for holding governments accountable for extraterritorial misconduct. Moving forward, this case could inspire other activists to pursue legal action against oppressive regimes, and it raises questions about the effectiveness of diplomatic immunity in cases of human rights violations. The broader implications suggest that authoritarian states will increasingly face legal consequences for covert operations targeting critics abroad, but the fight for accountability remains complex and ongoing.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that the UK High Court found Saudi Arabia responsible for hacking Al-Masarir's phones with Pegasus spyware, which was directed or authorized by the government. The court also concluded that the kingdom's failure to defend the claims demonstrated its lack of a realistic case. Reuters highlights that the case was initiated in 2019, with the UK court rejecting Saudi Arabia's immunity claim in 2022, and awarded Al-Masarir over £3 million, including damages for lost earnings. The Independent emphasizes the physical attack in London, where Al-Masarir was assaulted and called a 'slave of Qatar,' with witnesses intervening to prevent more serious injuries. Both sources agree on the court's findings linking the Saudi government to the cyber and physical assaults, illustrating a rare legal accountability for state-sponsored harassment abroad.
How we got here
Al-Masarir, a Saudi-born activist and satirist, moved to the UK in 2003 and gained a large online following criticizing the Saudi royal family. In 2018, he was attacked in London and later discovered his phones had been hacked using Pegasus spyware, which he alleges was authorized by the Saudi government. His lawsuit, filed in 2019, challenged Saudi Arabia's claim of state immunity, which was rejected by UK courts in 2022.
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