UK Court Rejects Bahrain's State Immunity Claim

London's Court of Appeal has ruled that Bahrain cannot claim state immunity in a lawsuit by two UK-based dissidents, Saeed Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed, who allege the Bahraini government used spyware, FinSpy, to hack their laptops. Judge Stephen Males emphasized that foreign states cannot interfere with the UK's territorial sovereignty, even if some actions occur abroad. The plaintiffs claim the spyware allowed Bahraini agents to monitor their communications and access sensitive information, particularly related to political activities. Bahrain has denied the allegations and previously attempted to assert state immunity, which was rejected by both the High Court and now the Court of Appeal. This ruling is seen as a significant precedent for addressing international cyber espionage and may encourage other victims to seek justice against state-sponsored hacking. The case represents a crucial moment for the accountability of foreign governments operating on British soil.