UK: Cage activists arrested at protest outside ‘coconuts’ court case

Five people were arrested on Wednesday while protesting outside a London court where a woman charged over a placard depicting British politicians as coconuts was due to appear.

London's Metropolitan Police told Middle East Eye that five men had been arrested outside Westminster Magistrates' Court on “suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences in relation to displaying placards and coconuts" and they remained in custody.

Advocacy group Cage International said the five men were all members of its staff and included Muhammad Rabbani, Cage's managing director, and Azad Ali, Cage's operations director.

Another female Cage staff member was later arrested as supporters of the group gathered outside Hammersmith police station where the five men were detained. All six were later released on bail, Cage said.

Footage posted online by Cage showed Rabbani, Ali and other protesters holding coconut placards that included a banner placed on top of the signs that read: “FAO the police: this is satire”.

Police confiscated the placards and seized coconuts which protesters had placed outside the court, placing them in evidence bags.

A spokesperson for Cage confirmed the arrests and said it was a “sad day for democracy and freedom of speech if activists can be arrested for holding a sign and pieces of fruit". 

Activists who spoke to MEE said the police warned other protesters they would be arrested if they held signs that showed coconuts.

The term "coconut" is used to describe a person of colour who is perceived as adopting the cultural norms and values of white society. Some people consider the term to be offensive.

The arrests came ahead of a plea hearing at the court in the case of Marieha Hussain, a 37-year-old woman from High Wycombe charged last month with a racially aggravated public order offence.

Hussain was photographed at a pro-Palestine demonstration in November holding a placard depicting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who are both British Asians, as coconuts.

Hussain pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to appear again at the court for a two-day hearing.

During the proceedings, Hussain’s lawyer, Gareth Peirce, requested the trial be heard “well in advance” instead of the proposed date of early September, as she said Hussain was pregnant and due to give birth in mid-October.

The court said it would investigate the option.

Government lawyer Frances McCormack also pushed back on Pierce’s proposal to have expert witnesses, suggesting it was “unnecessary” and would turn the case into an “academic exercise”.