Acquitted protester: I've no regrets over coconut placard

A teacher acquitted of a racially aggravated public order offence after she carried a placard depicting Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman as coconuts has said she has no regrets and would continue to use the term.

- Neha Gohil

In her first interview since she was found not guilty at Westminster magistrates court, Marieha Hussain, 37, said there was a lack of cultural understanding and awareness of the term "coconut" and how it is used by diverse communities.

The mother of two, who is nine months pregnant, said she lost her job, had to move home and was unable to recognise the early signs of her pregnancy because of the trial's impact.

Hussain, who teaches psychology, described attending a pro-Palestinian march in November last year. "From that day to this very day I have had no regret about making that placard, taking it out and defending it," she said.

Of people who found the term offensive, she said: "It's really not their term, it's not their language.

They didn't use it, know it, hear it, understand it growing up, and so as an adult they actually don't have any understanding of what this word really means, and they've ... kind of hijacked it and decided what they think it means and are prosecuting it.