Shehabi v Kingdom of Bahrain

Subject Matter

INTERNATIONAL LAW — State immunity — Act of state — Claim that agents of foreign state had installed spyware in computers of claimants located in United Kingdom — Claimants suffering psychiatric injury on discovery of foreign state spying on them — Whether foreign state entitled to claim immunity from civil proceedings — Whether proceedings in respect of personal injury caused by an act or omission in the United Kingdom — State Immunity Act 1978 (c 33), s 5

[2024] EWCA Civ 1158; [2025] KB 490; [2025] 2 WLR 467; [2025] 2 All ER 231; [2024] WLR(D) 425, CA

INTERNATIONAL LAW — State immunity — Act of state

[2023] EWHC 89 (KB), QBD

INTERNATIONAL LAW — State immunity — Statutory exception — Claim that agents of foreign state while located abroad installing spyware on claimants’ computers in United Kingdom causing psychiatric injury to claimants — Foreign state asserting state immunity — Whether claim subject to exception for proceedings in respect of “personal injury” caused by “act … in the United Kingdom” — State Immunity Act 1978 (c 33), ss 1, 5

[2024] EWCA Civ 1158; [2025] KB 490; [2025] 2 WLR 467; [2025] 2 All ER 231; [2024] WLR(D) 425, CA

INTERNATIONAL LAW — State immunity — Statutory exception — Claim that agents of foreign state while located abroad installing spyware on claimants’ computers in United Kingdom causing psychiatric injury to claimants — Foreign state asserting state immunity — Whether claim subject to exception for proceedings in respect of “personal injury … caused by an act … in the United Kingdom” — State Immunity Act 1978 (c 33), ss 1, 5

[2024] EWCA Civ 1158; [2025] KB 490; [2025] 2 WLR 467; [2025] 2 All ER 231; [2024] WLR(D) 425, CA

Appellate History