Judgment on Bahrain state immunity

Early day motion 857, tabled 20 February 2023 by John McDonnell (Labour). Signed by 18 members.

That this House welcomes the High Court’s landmark ruling that the Kingdom of Bahrain does not have state immunity in a case brought by two UK-based Bahraini dissidents against the Bahraini government over spying allegations involving the use of spyware, which enabled it to conduct surreptitious surveillance on Bahraini political activists living in the UK and recognises that this decision comes in the same month as the 12 year anniversary of Bahrain’s pro-democracy uprising; further asserts that this decision clearly confirms that Bahrain and other states which conduct transnational repression on UK soil cannot hide behind state immunity and will be held accountable; and calls on the Government to protect individuals on UK soil from foreign cyber attacks and to hold the government of Bahrain to account.

Signatures by party: Labour 8, Scottish National Party 3, Independent 2, Labour/Co-operative 2, Alba 1, DUP 1, Green 1.