Full Breakdown
Saudi Arabia Ordered to Pay £3 Million to Dissident Ghanem Al-Masarir for Hacking and Assault
1/26/2026, 8:19:17 PM
Court Ruling and Compensation Award
On January 26, 2026, London's High Court ruled in favor of Ghanem Al-Masarir, a Saudi human rights activist, awarding him over £3 million ($4.1 million) in damages. The court found that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was responsible for hacking Al-Masarir's mobile phones using Pegasus spyware and for a physical assault against him in London in August 2018. Judge Pushpinder Saini concluded that there was a "compelling basis" to believe that the hacking was directed or authorized by Saudi Arabia or its agents, which resulted in significant psychiatric harm and loss of income for Al-Masarir.
Background of the Case
Ghanem Al-Masarir, also known as Ghanem al-Dosari, has been a vocal critic of the Saudi government through his YouTube channels, which have garnered over 345 million views. He has lived in the UK since 2003 and was granted asylum in 2018 due to fears of political persecution in Saudi Arabia. In June 2018, Al-Masarir discovered that his phones had been hacked, leading to severe depression and the end of his successful YouTube career. The physical assault occurred in August 2018 when he was attacked by two men outside Harrods, who accused him of being a "slave to Qatar."
Legal Proceedings
Saudi Arabia attempted to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds of state immunity, but this argument was rejected by the High Court in 2022. After losing an appeal, the kingdom did not participate further in the proceedings. The judge noted that the KSA had a clear interest in silencing Al-Masarir's public criticism, stating that the actions taken against him were "grossly intrusive" and unjustified.
Impact of the Ruling
The ruling marks a significant legal setback for Saudi Arabia, which has faced criticism for its treatment of dissidents. Al-Masarir expressed that the judgment "brings a long and painful chapter to a close," emphasizing the importance of standing up for the truth against powerful opponents. The court awarded him £2.6 million to cover lost YouTube earnings and additional compensation for the psychological impact of the hacking and assault.
Criticism and Broader Implications
Critics of the Saudi government have hailed the ruling as a victory for human rights and a step towards accountability for state-sponsored harassment. Ron Deibert, founder of the Citizen Lab, stated that the UK courts have provided a necessary avenue for victims of transnational repression. However, the case also highlights ongoing concerns about the use of sophisticated spyware like Pegasus by authoritarian regimes to target dissidents globally.
Verbatim Quotes
- “there is a compelling basis for concluding that (Al-Masarir's) iPhones were hacked by Pegasus spyware” — Judge Pushpinder Saini
- “brings a long and painful chapter to a close. It affirms that standing up for the truth, no matter how powerful the opponent, is worth the struggle. No amount of money can undo what I have suffered, but I hope the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will now do the right thing and comply with this judgment, without the need for further enforcement action.” — Ghanem Al-Masarir
- “The KSA had a clear interest in and motivation to shut down the claimant’s public criticism of the Saudi government,” — Judge Pushpinder Saini
This ruling not only underscores the risks faced by activists like Al-Masarir but also sets a precedent for holding states accountable for their actions against dissidents abroad.