Legal Blow to Bahrain: Court Rejects State Immunity in Hack Case

The London Court of Appeal ruled that Bahrain cannot claim state immunity in a case brought by dissidents Saeed Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed, who allege their laptops were hacked using FinSpy spyware. The court upheld a previous decision by the High Court, dismissing Bahrain's appeal.

In a pivotal decision, London's Court of Appeal has ruled against Bahrain's claim to state immunity in a lawsuit filed by two dissidents. The case, brought forth by Saeed Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed, accuses Bahrain of hacking their laptops with spyware known as FinSpy, which allegedly allowed invasive surveillance.

The plaintiffs contend that the spyware enabled Bahraini agents to commandeer their computers, access private files, and monitor communications. Bahrain has consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that it did not engage in any such hacking activities.

The Court of Appeal's judgment upheld an earlier decision made by the High Court, which had also rejected Bahrain's immunity claim. This ruling paves the way for the legal proceedings to continue in Britain, highlighting significant implications for international cyber espionage disputes.

(With inputs from agencies.)