I mocked the Saudi leader on YouTube – then my phone was hacked and I was beaten up in London

Ghanem al-Masarir, a satirist known for his online critiques of the Saudi Arabian regime, has been awarded three million pounds in damages. This judgment follows an incident where al-Masarir alleged his phone was hacked and he was subsequently assaulted in London. The legal victory, however, is contingent on the enforceability of the award against Saudi Arabia, with questions remaining about whether the Kingdom will comply with the payout. Al-Masarir gained notoriety for his YouTube channel, where he openly criticized Saudi leaders and policies, a stance that he claims led to the retaliatory actions against him. The case highlights ongoing concerns about extraterritorial reach and the silencing of dissent beyond national borders.