In a judgment handed down today, Saini J has granted summary judgment to Ghanem Al-Masarir, a well-known satirist, human rights activist and political commentator based in the UK, in his claim against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”). The Judge held that there was no real prospect that KSA would successfully defend Mr Al-Masarir’s claims that (a) it had hacked his mobile phones and placed him under surveillance using “Pegasus” spyware and (b) it was responsible for a physical assault on Mr Al-Masarir in London in 2018.
Mr Al-Masarir was therefore granted summary judgment and awarded damages in his claims in misuse of private information, harassment, trespass to goods and assault.
Mr Al-Masarir was represented by Ben Silverstone, instructed by Leigh Day.
Click here to read the full judgment.