A convicted terrorist is suing a pub called The Saracen’s Head Inn because he’s “deeply offended” by the boozer’s sign. The Sun has more.
Khalid Baqa, 60, claims the “depiction of a bearded Arab/Turk incites violence” – despite him previously being jailed for preparing jihadi propaganda.
He also claims it is racist and is wants £1,850 from the landlord of the historic inn at Amersham, Bucks — and plans to take on 30 more with the same name if successful.
But publican Robbie Hayes, 52, fumed: “It’s a complete joke. This pub has been called The Saracen’s Head for 500 years.
“He’s just chancing his hand. Of course it worries me – you never know with people like this.
“No one at this pub is racist, we don’t believe the sign is racist and the name is simply historic.
“We won’t be pushed around and change hundreds of years of history just because some loudmouth wants to cause trouble.”
Baqa has filed a “claim of money” form – an application to county court for a sum of cash a person says they are owed, which was previously referred to as small claims court.
His submission says: “While walking through the area I was shocked and deeply offended by what I saw.
“I saw pub signage depicting a brown-skinned bearded Arab/Turk male with a turban and captioned ‘The Saracen’s Head’.
“This instilled worry and fear in me since it was clearly xenophobic, racist and inciting violence to certain people. I immediately complained to the pub and requested the signage be removed.”
He claims to have contacted the pub four times and visited in person, but staff there have no record.
In 2018, Baqa was jailed for four years and eight months after admitting five counts of dissemination of terrorist publications.
He told the Sun of his court claim: “I’ve always been offended by pub names like these but I’ve only recently discovered how I can challenge them online.”
He added: “I’ve stopped all the terrorism stuff now.”
But Toby Young, of the Free Speech Union, said: “It’s a bit rich for someone jailed for encouraging people to commit acts of Islamist terrorism to complain about the name of a pub inciting violence.”
Saracen is a term used since at least the Fifth Century to refer to Arabs, and later linked to Muslims.
The pub name Saracen’s Head is said to be linked to the Crusades and seen as a sign of respect of the fighting qualities of enemies.
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