Full Breakdown
Saudi Dissident Ghanem al-Masarir Awarded £3 Million in Landmark Case Against Saudi Arabia
2/1/2026, 11:40:35 PM
Landmark Judgment Against Saudi Arabia
A significant ruling by Mr. Justice Saini in London has awarded Ghanem al-Masarir, a Saudi dissident, over £3 million in damages from the Saudi government. The judgment stems from an incident in 2018 where al-Masarir was assaulted outside Harrods in London, while his phone was hacked using Pegasus spyware, a tool linked to the Saudi regime. This ruling marks a pivotal moment, as it holds the Saudi government accountable for actions that have long been associated with human rights abuses, despite their historical evasion of legal responsibility.
Background on Surveillance and Assault
The Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto confirmed that al-Masarir's phone was infected with spyware, alongside other critics of the Saudi government, including the late journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Previous legal attempts against the Saudi government, such as a U.S. lawsuit involving Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman related to Khashoggi's murder, were dismissed due to claims of sovereign immunity. However, Saini's ruling indicated "effectively criminal conduct" by the Saudi state against al-Masarir, establishing a precedent for accountability in civil cases.
Personal Impact on Ghanem al-Masarir
Al-Masarir has expressed the profound personal toll the assault and surveillance have taken on his life. He reported suffering from severe depression, which has rendered him unable to work and left him rarely leaving his home. He stated, “I suffered a lot and what they have done to me has ruined my life.” The damages awarded primarily compensate for loss of earnings, as al-Masarir had a successful career creating content critical of the Saudi government, which has now been severely impacted.
Saudi Government's Response and Future Actions
The Saudi government has not commented on the judgment or indicated whether it will comply with the payment order. Al-Masarir has warned that if the Saudi authorities fail to pay, he will pursue enforcement action to recover the damages from Saudi assets abroad. He emphasized the importance of the ruling, stating, “This judgment sent a signal they should not intervene inside the UK and it will not be tolerated.”
Criticism of Saudi Reforms
Despite the ruling, al-Masarir remains skeptical about the Saudi government's commitment to genuine reform, criticizing recent events such as a comedy festival in the kingdom that featured prominent comedians while simultaneously suppressing dissent. He remarked, “It shows you how hypocritical they are,” highlighting the contradiction between the Saudi regime's public image and its treatment of critics.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I hope they will comply and pay the debt as soon as possible. If they don’t pay it, we won’t have any other alternative but to take enforcement action to recover the money from Saudi assets abroad, it doesn’t have to be the UK.” — Ghanem al-Masarir, Saudi Dissident
- “I thought I would be safe in the centre of London [but] they were able to locate me and send their agent to attack me,” — Ghanem al-Masarir
- “I suffered a lot and what they have done to me has ruined my life,” — Ghanem al-Masarir
- “amazing thing, them being liable in a court of law. This judgment sent a signal they should not intervene inside the UK and it will not be tolerated.” — Ghanem al-Masarir
This landmark case not only underscores the potential for legal accountability for state-sponsored actions but also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by dissidents in their fight for justice and freedom of expression.
