Woman who carried a placard in pro-Palestine protest depicting Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman as coconuts found not guilty
London (Quds News Network)— Marieha Hussein, 37, has been found not guilty of “a racially aggravated public order offence” after carrying a political placard depicting UK politicians Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman as coconuts during a pro-Palestine rally in London last November. The trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court centered on whether the placard constituted racial abuse or was an act of political expression.
Hussein’s defense attorney, Rajiv Menon KC, contended that the placard was a form of political criticism and that her participation in the protest was within reasonable limits of expression. Hussein maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings.
The case has been marked by significant abuse and harassment directed at Hussein, leading to her losing her job and being targeted by far-right groups. This situation has drawn media attention, particularly after revelations from Middle East Eye that the London Metropolitan Police used anonymous right-wing accounts to monitor pro-Palestine marches.
Chris Humphreys, a senior media and communications manager for the Met, testified that his team used social media posts, including those from the blog Harry’s Place, to guide their policing of protests. Humphreys confirmed that the Met had issued a holding response to posts from Harry’s Place, which is known for its critical stance against criticism of Israel.
During cross-examination, Rajiv Menon questioned Humphreys about the role of Harry’s Place, pointing out its reputation as a secretive blog with a particular interest in opposing criticism of the Israeli state. Humphreys acknowledged that the Met utilized information from this blog in their investigation into Hussein.
