LONDON, June 14: A landmark ruling that gave four men the right to sue foreign officials who allegedly tortured them while they were held in Saudi Arabian jails was overturned by Britain’s highest court on Wednesday.
The House of Lords allowed an appeal by Saudi Arabia against a Court of Appeal decision in Oct 2004, which had effectively removed blanket immunity for officials from foreign states accused of serious crimes like torture.
Saudi Arabia, supported by the British government, had argued that its officials were protected by the State Immunity Act from proceedings brought in Britain.—AFP
