Pro-Palestine teacher Marieha Hussain, who carried a satirical placard depicting Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman as coconuts, has been found not guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence.
Hussain, 37, of High Wycombe, denied the charge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 12 and was vindicated the next day.
District Judge Vanessa Lloyd told the court: “As such, the prosecution have not proved to the criminal standard that it was abusive. The prosecution has also not proved to the criminal standard that you were aware that your placard may be abusive.”
Outside the court, Hussain expressed her gratitude to Allah and thanks to her supporters following her legal win.
“I must start by thanking God for giving me the patience and strength to withstand the trials and tribulations of the last 10 months. It has led me to my outstanding legal team who defended me, CAGE International who have advocated for me and academics, like Nels Abbey, who have supported me.
“Despite the pressure from the CPS and the police, Judge Vanessa Lloyd has seen through this politicised prosecution and I have found some justice today. The damage to my reputation and image can never be undone but I am proud to have defended the principle that our language and political critique is not illegal.
“The laws on hate speech must serve to protect us all, but this trial shows us that these laws are being weaponised to target ethnic minorities and in my case also crack down on pro Palestine political dissent.”
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
Naila Ahmed, Head of Campaigns at CAGE International, also reacted to the verdict.
“It’s scandalous that a heavily pregnant mother ever needed to stand trial for expressing a political opinion. This prosecution has been vindictive from the very start. It will be a huge relief for Marieha and her family that this ordeal is now over and she can put all this behind her.
“The state is increasingly exploring insidious ways to prosecute activists, especially those taking action for Palestine. We hope today’s verdict puts a stop to these sorts of politicised prosecutions, and especially leads to the dropping of charges against the CAGE 6 who are accused of the exact same alleged offence. However, we will not be silenced in exposing the war crimes and genocide being committed by the apartheid Israeli state – Palestine will be free.”
Prior to the verdict, defence lawyer Rajiv Menon KC emphasised the dangers a guilty verdict would have for free speech in the UK.
“This prosecution of Ms Hussain is a disturbing attack on the right of freedom of expression. The right to peaceful protest that did not, in any shape or form, risk violence or public disorder. The right to anti-racists to criticise members of their own race for pursuing racist policies and using racist rhetoric. The right to satirise our politicians. The right to mock, tease or make fun of our politicians in a light-hearted and satirical way that Marieha Hussain attempted to do with her placard.
“That Marieha Hussain of all people could be prosecuted for a racially aggravated offence whilst the likes of Braverman and Nigel Farage and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) and Frank Hester are seemingly free to make inflammatory and divisive statements will likely be incomprehensible to many people.”
Additionally, Mr Menon described Hussain as a woman of “impeccable character” and someone who “quite obviously does not have a racist bone in her body.”
Menon again emphasised that the placard was brought to police attention not by a UK police officer present at the November demonstration, nor by any other British citizen, but by a U.S-based pro-Israel X account.
Harry’s Place, which posted the coconut placard picture was, as Menon described, “conveniently hiding in the shadows” and if it hadn’t shared the picture “we wouldn’t be here today. Thousands of officers were wholly uninterested in Ms Hussain or her placard.”
On the first day of what became a two day trial, Metropolitan Police communications manager, Chris Humphreys, appeared as a witness and explained how the image of Ms Hussain came to the Met’s attention.
Humphreys explained how the force “actively monitors” accounts that frequently post images taken from Palestine solidarity rallies “either because the Met was tagged in the post or because accounts post protest-related tweets or images tag the police.”
Harry’s Place was described in court as “a secretive political blog” located in Washington DC which opposes any criticism of the Israeli state.
When asked: “Are you aware that Harry’s Place is a secretive political blog headquartered in Washington DC that has a particular interest in opposing any criticism of the Israeli state?” Mr Humphreys replied saying only: “I know Harry’s Place is an anonymous political blog.”
