A prominent Saudi dissident, Yahya Assiri, is taking legal action against his home country in London, alleging that Saudi Arabia targeted him with sophisticated spyware. Assiri, the founder of the opposition National Assembly Party (NAAS) and currently living in exile in Britain, claims his electronic devices were subject to surveillance software between 2018 and 2020.
The lawsuit, filed in London’s High Court, names Saudi Arabia as the defendant, accusing the country of using Pegasus – a powerful surveillance tool developed by Israeli company NSO Group and sold exclusively to nation states – and other spyware manufactured by the lesser-known Israeli firm QuaDream. Assiri attributes these alleged attacks to his work with dissidents within Saudi Arabia.
This legal action comes on the heels of a similar case against Bahrain, where two dissidents accused the Bahraini government of using spyware to hack their laptops. Earlier this month, the Court of Appeal rejected Bahrain’s attempt to claim state immunity in that case.
In a significant development, Roger Eastman, a judge in the High Court, granted Assiri permission to serve his lawsuit on the Saudi government. This decision required the court to determine that Assiri’s case holds merit, paving the way for the lawsuit to proceed.
The Saudi embassy in London has yet to issue a statement in response to the allegations. However, the decision to allow the lawsuit to be served on Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, announced on October 11, represents a crucial step in the legal process.
Assiri, in a statement released following the court’s ruling, expressed his unwavering resolve: “I am fully aware that the authorities will want to target me. However, it is outrageous for them also to target individuals such as the victims of rights abuses and their families in Saudi Arabia simply because these people have been in contact with me”.
This case, mirroring other legal actions against Gulf states in English courts, highlights the increasing scrutiny surrounding the use of spyware to suppress dissent and target individuals. The legal battle ahead will likely shed light on the complex dynamics of international law, cybersecurity, and the rights of dissidents in the digital age.