A High Court judge has ordered Saudi Arabia to pay more than £3 million in damages to Ghanem al-Masarir, a London-based dissident whose phones were hacked using Pegasus spyware. Judge Pushpinder Saini ruled on Monday that the kingdom was responsible for the hacking and a physical attack on al-Masarir outside Harrods in central London.
The judge found there was a compelling basis to conclude that al-Masarir's iPhones were hacked by Pegasus spyware, resulting in data exfiltration, and that this was directed or authorised by Saudi Arabia. He also determined, on the balance of probabilities, that the kingdom was responsible for the 2018 physical assault on the 45-year-old satirist, also known as Ghanem al-Dosari, whose YouTube channels have over 300 million views.
Saini described Saudi Arabia's actions as 'grossly intrusive' and unjustified, noting the kingdom had a clear interest in silencing al-Masarir's public criticism. The court heard that al-Masarir continues to suffer severe depression, is unable to work, and rarely leaves his home seven years after being targeted.
Saudi Arabia had sought to dismiss the case on state immunity grounds, but the High Court rejected that argument in 2022. After losing an appeal, the kingdom took no further part in proceedings. The ruling marks a rare legal setback for Saudi Arabia, which previously avoided liability in a US lawsuit over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
Al-Masarir said the ruling 'brings a long and painful chapter to a close' and affirmed that standing up for truth is worth the struggle. His lawyer, Sapna Malik of Leigh Day, said the judgment vindicates their client's efforts to hold the kingdom accountable. Citizen Lab founder Ron Deibert praised the UK courts for providing an avenue for justice for victims of targeted espionage.
