WRITTEN EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY MR. GHANEM ALMASARIR
(TRUK0012)
I, am a Saudi political satirist, human rights activist, and vocal critic of the Saudi government. Through my YouTube channel, The Ghanem Show, I have exposed human rights abuses and corruption in Saudi Arabia, leading to sustained transnational repression by Saudi authorities while I reside in the UK.
My targeting began as early as 2004, when I met a Saudi dissident in London. Later, I encountered Maher Mutreb, a Saudi intelligence officer at the Saudi embassy, who explicitly warned me never to leave the UK. Years later, Maher Mutreb would go on to lead the team that assassinated journalist Jamal Khashoggi, demonstrating the extreme lengths to which the Saudi government will go to silence its critics. This warning, which I reported to the Home Office in 2012, foreshadowed the sustained harassment, surveillance, and intimidation I would later endure.
Recent reports reveal that UK officials, including former Foreign Secretary David Cameron, have been lobbied by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding my case (The Guardian, December 10, 2024). This demonstrates the extent to which the Saudi government will go to suppress dissent—even within UK borders.
● In 2017, I received a direct phone call from a Saudi prince threatening me with harm if I did not cease my activism.
● In 2018, I was physically attacked on the streets of London by two saudi individuals whom I believe were acting on behalf of the Saudi government.
● I have been subjected to persistent online harassment, including targeted defamation campaigns aimed at discrediting my activism and silencing my voice.
● My personal website was hacked by actors linked to the Saudi government, leading to the loss of critical content and disruption of my ability to share information.
● My Instagram account was hacked and compromised, preventing me from reaching my audience and further restricting my ability to continue my activism online.
● My YouTube channel has been repeatedly taken down due to coordinated efforts by the Saudi government, which has abused platform reporting mechanisms to silence my content.
● In 2009, my car was stolen, my signature was forged, and the vehicle was exported to Dubai. I believe Saudi intelligence was behind this. I reported the incident to the police, but no action was taken.
● In 2009, someone forged my signature on a check and attempted to withdraw £10,000 from my HSBC account. I immediately contacted HSBC’s fraud department and informed them that this was fraudulent, as I had never heard of the person whose name was on the check. They assured me they would investigate, but to this day, I have received no updates. I strongly believe this was the work of Saudi intelligence.
● In 2010, I met an individual in the UK who claimed to be a master's student. Over time, he attempted to persuade me to travel with him to Italy or Egypt. I later uncovered his true identity—his real name was Rajeh Al-Baqmi, and he was, in fact, the head of Saudi intelligence at the Saudi embassy in London. This confirmed that the Saudi government had been monitoring and targeting me for much longer than I had previously realized.
●
● In October 2018, the Metropolitan Police came to my flat at 3:00 a.m. to inform me of credible threats to my life.
● As a result, the police installed a panic alarm in my home and provided me with a personal alarm.
● In 2018, my electronic devices were targeted with Pegasus spyware, allowing Saudi authorities to access my private communications, as confirmed by independent cybersecurity experts.
● In late 2018, I noticed a Saudi diplomatic vehicle (a silver Lexus with country code 239) patrolling my residence in the UK. This caused extreme distress and made it difficult for me to sleep for days.
Despite its duty to protect individuals targeted by foreign states, UK law enforcement has failed to respond adequately, leaving victims vulnerable.
● In 2018, I was physically attacked in London. While in the ambulance, a Saudi businessman at the scene told my friend, *"Do not associate yourself with the dog"—referring to me—and boasted that "the police will not come because we control the police here."
● His statement was not an empty threat—it was validated by the complete inaction of UK law enforcement. Despite waiting for nearly two hours, the police failed to respond to a violent attack in a public place. Eventually, the ambulance crew, recognizing the negligence of law enforcement, took me directly to Notting Hill Police Station instead. This raises serious concerns about whether foreign influence is affecting the UK’s ability to protect dissidents on its soil.
○ Establish a formal legal definition of transnational repression to systematically track and prevent it.
○ Introduce clear protections for dissidents, including enhanced police response protocols and diplomatic accountability measures.
○ Strengthen judicial independence by safeguarding UK courts from foreign interference.
○ Implement stricter laws against foreign surveillance, including banning the use of spyware like Pegasus against UK residents.
○ Ensure diplomatic accountability by establishing strict consequences for embassies engaged in harassment, surveillance, or intimidation of individuals residing in the UK.
The UK has long been a safe haven for those fleeing persecution. However, without stronger protections, transnational repression threatens to undermine the very values of democracy and free speech that the UK upholds.
This testimony provides just a glimpse into how a foreign government can operate within the UK to target dissidents. However, it does not capture the full extent of the 22 years of harassment, threats, and persecution I have endured at the hands of the Saudi government. My case is not unique, and without urgent intervention, other dissidents will continue to face similar dangers.
The UK must take decisive action to protect those seeking refuge and uphold the rule of law against authoritarian influence. Implementing Ghanem’s Law will send a clear message that the UK will not tolerate foreign states harassing and intimidating individuals on its soil.
(Feb 2025)