Pro-Palestine protester cleared of racial offence over coconut' placard
Briefly

Marieha Hussain shared after her acquittal that the ordeal, which has left her vilified by media and stripped of her career, has been agonising for her family. She insists that the laws on hate speech should protect individuals and highlights the fear of being targeted for simply expressing dissent. Hussain, determined to use her voice for Palestine even in distress, criticized the misuse of such laws against ethnic minorities and expressed her commitment despite personal costs.
District Judge Vanessa Lloyd noted that the prosecution failed to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Hussain's placard was abusive, ruling it to be a part of political satire. This statement underscores the distinction between satire and racism, reflecting on the complexities surrounding hate speech laws. Hussain's defense emphasized her motives were rooted in political expression rather than any form of racial disparagement, warranting a dismissal of the charges against her.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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