Pro-Palestine protester stands trial for racial offence over ‘coconut’ placard

Marieha Hussain attended a London march against the war in Gaza carrying a sign depicting Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman as coconuts

A woman who held a poster depicting Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman as coconuts during a London protest against Israel's war in Gaza has gone on trial accused of a racially aggravated offence.

Marieha Hussain, 37, pleaded not guilty as her trial began at Westminster magistrates court on Thursday morning. Prosecutor Jonathan Bryan said the term coconut" was a well-known racial slur which has a very clear meaning".