Yahya Assiri Allowed to Sue Saudi Arabia in UK Court

Yahya Assiri, a Saudi human rights activist, has been granted permission by the UK High Court to sue the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over allegations of spyware surveillance. Assiri claims that between 2018 and 2020, the Saudi government used Israeli-developed spyware, including Pegasus and QuaDream, to monitor his mobile devices, which allowed access to sensitive personal data. The case marks a significant legal challenge as it is reportedly the first involving QuaDream to reach the High Court. Assiri, a founding member of the opposition National Assembly Party, has lived in exile in the UK since 2014, fearing for his safety due to his activism. The court's decision is viewed as an important step towards accountability for transnational repression by the Saudi authorities, as highlighted by Human Rights Watch. Assiri's case follows previous legal actions against the Saudi government regarding similar surveillance practices.