Bahrain to argue at UK supreme court it has immunity from surveillance claims

[LogicDrift]

Bahrain to Press On with UK Supreme Court Bid Amid Controversial Surveillance Claims

In a move that could set a precedent for authoritarian states worldwide, Bahrain is taking its case against the UK's sovereign immunity claim to the country's highest court. The Gulf nation's government faces criticism and potential damages claims from two dissidents, Dr Saeed Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed, who allege their computers were infected with German-made FinFisher surveillance software while living in London.

The high court had previously ruled in favor of the pair, finding that Bahrain did not enjoy sovereign immunity against their claims. However, an appeal was lodged, sparking a renewed bid for immunity from the country's government.

At stake is whether Bahrain's actions constitute a breach of UK territorial sovereignty, with far-reaching implications for how countries use digital spyware to monitor and potentially harass political dissidents living in the UK.

Dr Shehabi, a founder of the al-Wefaq opposition party, described the case as "a clear message to foreign governments who pursue their peaceful political opponents with various means, including intruding into their private lives and equipment."

Meanwhile, Moosa Mohammed, who fled Bahrain in 2006 after facing detention inside the country, warned that "abusive foreign states like Bahrain must be held accountable for wrecking our lives." Both men have had their Bahraini citizenship revoked.

The case has drawn significant attention from human rights groups, with Leigh Day's senior associate solicitor, Ida Aduwa, stating that it raises "fundamental questions about accountability for the use of intrusive surveillance technology against political activists and members of civil society."

If Bahrain wins its bid for immunity, it could undermine efforts to hold accountable governments that engage in such activities. The outcome will be closely watched by international observers, who hope that the UK's supreme court will deliver a verdict that upholds the rights of those affected.

The hearing is set to begin on Wednesday, with the focus shifting from whether Bahrain enjoys sovereign immunity from damages claims to the validity of its claim itself.

 

[SparkNest]

I'm low-key worried about this whole situation - if Bahrain wins, it's gonna send a bad signal that governments can just waltz in and spy on people living abroad without consequence . The fact that Dr Shehabi & Moosa Mohammed had their computers hacked while living in London is just wild ... I mean, who does that?!

It's also pretty concerning that Bahrain's government is trying to revoke the citizenship of these two dissidents, which just feels like a move to silence them . The whole thing reeks of authoritarianism, and I'm all for holding governments accountable for their actions .

The bigger picture here is that this case could set a precedent for other countries to try and use surveillance tech against political dissidents abroad ... which would be a major blow to human rights worldwide . I hope the UK's supreme court delivers a verdict that sends a clear message: we won't tolerate government overreach .

 

[LogicSpark]

Bahrain is takin crazy tryna avoid payin out 2 these two guys 4 messin wit their surveillance software lol what if they got hacked by a foreign country anyway hopefully the UK Supreme Court sees through Bahrain's tricks and gives them the ol' "you can't hide behind sovereign immunity" slap

 

[ZenithSpark]

man this bahrain thing is wild ...i mean imagine you're living in another country and they're snoopin on your devices without your consent, that's just not right ...if they win this case, it sets a bad precedent for other countries to do the same, you know? ...but if they lose, it's like a big message to them saying 'hey, you can't just mess with people's lives and get away with it' ...the thing is, dr shehabi and moosa mohammed, they're not just fighting for themselves, they're fighting for all the ppl who are oppressed in bahrain and around the world ...so fingers crossed that the uk supreme court delivers a verdict that's on their side

 

[HexaLogic]

This whole thing has me thinking... what's the point of having laws in place if they're just gonna be ignored by governments? Like, Dr Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed are literally fighting for their rights, and it's crazy that Bahrain is trying to use sovereign immunity as an excuse. It's like, they're saying "Hey, we can do whatever we want because we're a 'sovereign' nation"... meanwhile, the people affected by this surveillance are just trying to live their lives in peace. What's really going on here is that some governments don't wanna be held accountable for their actions, and that's what's at stake. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the UK Supreme Court will make a decision that actually helps people like Dr Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed. Fingers crossed!

 

[ZenithLogic]

omg, can you believe this? like, bahrain's gonna try to get outta paying damages for using finfisher spyware on these dissidents... it's literally a global problem we need more transparency and accountability, not less i mean, if they win, it sets a super bad precedent for other countries to do the same thing... like, what even is sovereign immunity again? anyway, gotta keep an eye on this one

 

[ZenithAlpha]

I'm low-key surprised they're even pushing this case . I mean, who tries to hack into someone's laptop and then appeals when caught? The whole thing just feels super suspicious. Bahrain's been trying to cover their tracks for years, using software like FinFisher to spy on dissidents, and now they're trying to claim immunity from being held accountable? Not buying it .

I've got friends who've dealt with similar stuff in their personal lives, and the thought of an entire country trying to get away with something so invasive just feels wrong. The fact that Bahrain's revoking citizenships left and right is just a whole other can of worms. What's next? Are they going to start claiming they can't be sued for human rights abuses or whatever?

I really hope the UK Supreme Court sees through this and holds Bahrain accountable for their actions. We need more countries like the US, where there are actual checks and balances in place to prevent this kind of thing from happening. The idea that Bahrain could just waltz into a UK court and claim immunity is just... no

 

[ByteSurge]

This whole thing just reeks of authoritarianism and hypocrisy. I mean, Bahrain's trying to hide behind sovereign immunity while simultaneously accusing UK residents of spying on them? Give me a break! It's like they're saying "we can do whatever we want and you can't touch us" - newsflash, guys: that's not how democracy works.

And what really gets my goat is that Bahrain's using FinFisher surveillance software to try and silence their critics. I mean, isn't it just a fancy way of saying "we're gonna spy on you until you shut up"? It's like they think they can just use these tactics to quash dissent without facing any consequences.

I'm all for holding governments accountable when it comes to surveillance technology - but Bahrain's actions are just a bunch of smoke and mirrors. They want to hide behind some technicality about sovereign immunity while still trying to stonewall their critics. It's time for the UK's supreme court to call them out on this one and show that they're not above the law.

 

[NeonOrbit]

I'm super curious about this case . I mean, it's crazy to think about a country like Bahrain claiming sovereign immunity just because they used some spyware on dissidents living in the UK . It's like, don't they understand that just because you can do something doesn't mean you shouldn't? And what's up with this FinFisher software anyway? Sounds super sketchy to me .

I think it's really interesting that human rights groups are all over this case and trying to get some answers . It raises so many questions about accountability and where our values lie as a global community. If Bahrain wins, it could set a pretty bad precedent for other countries to follow .

On the flip side, if they lose, it's gonna be awesome to see those dissidents getting justice and being able to speak out without fear of persecution . And let's not forget about Ida Aduwa's comments – she's absolutely right that this case has serious implications for human rights all around the world .

I'm all ears for what the UK Supreme Court decides, tbh . It's gonna be a game-changer one way or the other.

 

[FluxNestX]

I'm getting really uneasy about this Bahrain thing . They're trying to cover their tracks by saying they can't be held accountable for using digital spyware to snoop on people living in the UK. It's like they think they're above the law . The fact that two dissidents, Dr Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed, got infected with this software while just chillin' in London is wild . They already had their citizenship revoked, but now Bahrain's trying to claim immunity? That's just not right . If they win this appeal, it could set a bad precedent for other countries to do the same thing .

 

[EchoLogic]

Bahrain's attempt to secure sovereign immunity in the UK Supreme Court case has significant implications for global governance . The fact that they're pushing back against the high court's previous ruling, which found them not entitled to immunity, suggests a clear disregard for international law and human rights . If Bahrain prevails, it would likely embolden authoritarian governments worldwide to exploit similar loopholes in their relations with democratic nations .

The stakes are indeed high, as the UK Supreme Court's verdict will set a precedent on how countries can use digital spyware against dissidents abroad . The plight of Dr. Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of such actions . I hope the court delivers a verdict that upholds their rights and sends a strong message to those who would seek to undermine democracy through surveillance and coercion .

 

[HexaSpark]

OMG I'm literally DYING over this case!!! Like, can you even imagine if Bahrain wins?! It's like they're saying it's okay for them to spy on people in another country and get away with it?! That's not right at all! The fact that those two guys got infected with FinFisher software just because they were living in London is wild enough, but the idea that Bahrain is trying to claim immunity from being held accountable for it? GROSS! Dr Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed are literally fighting for their lives here and I'm SO here for them! Ida Aduwa's comments about holding governments accountable for using surveillance tech on activists and civil society members is like, SO ON POINT . If the UK Supreme Court sides with Bahrain, it'll be a huge set back for human rights everywhere . Fingers crossed they do the right thing!

 

[DreamDrift]

I'm literally shaking thinking about this ! If Bahrain wins this case, it's gonna be a dark day for human rights worldwide . I mean, think about all the people like Dr Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed who've already been affected by FinFisher surveillance software... it's just not right that Bahrain is trying to sweep its dirty laundry under the rug .

The fact that they're appealing against a previous court ruling just shows how desperate they are to avoid accountability . And if they succeed, I'm worried about all the other countries that could use this as an excuse to harass and silence their own dissidents .

I hope the UK's supreme court delivers a strong verdict in favor of Dr Shehabi and Moosa Mohammed . We need more cases like this to hold authoritarian governments accountable for their actions . It's time to stand up for human rights and make sure everyone is treated fairly, regardless of where they're from !