A landlord has defended his pub after a convicted terrorist claimed he was “deeply offended” by its “racist” sign.
Khalid Baqa – who was previously jailed for spreading jihadi content – is demanding hundreds of pounds in a civil claim against the The Saracen’s Head Inn in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, over its sign “depicting a brown-skinned bearded Arab/Turk male with a turban”, which he claims “incites violence”.
Describing the legal action as “ludicrous”, landlord Robbie Hayes, 52, told The Independent he received a letter from His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service at the end of November, with a “list of demands” made by Baqa, 60.
According to Mr Hayes, who vehemently denies the accusations, Baqa wants the compensation for the “racist sign”, “xenophobia” and “inciting racial violence against a specific race”.
The 52-year-old, of Amersham, told this publication: “Its ludicrous. I don’t think he has a leg to stand on. It’s been called The Saracen’s Head for 500 years. Why, overnight, has Khalid Baqa become offended by it? I don’t think one man can change the historic name of a pub that's been called that for 500 years because he doesn’t like it. It’s ridiculous.”
The Sun reported Baqa intends to launch similar legal actions against the dozens of other pubs named The Saracen’s Head across the UK if successful with his current claim - although he has since told The Independent he has no plans to do so.
He told The Sun: “I’ve always been offended by pub names like these, but I’ve only recently discovered how I can challenge them online.”
Baqa has reportedly filed a “claim of money” form, which is an application to county court for an amount of money someone says they are owed.
According to documents seen by The Independent, his submission reads: “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.”
The Sun reported he alleged he has contacted the pub four times as well as visited in person – however, Mr Hayes told The Independent his pub has no record of this.
Baqa was jailed for two years in 2013 after admitting having 300 computer discs of terrorist material in his car and home. He was again jailed five years later, for spreading jihadi CDs and leaflets.
In a written statement to The Independent, Baqa said he first became aware of the pub sign when planning a walking trip in the Chiltern Hills. He said if he won his claim, the money would be donated to orphans in Gaza or Syria.
He said: “I am not offended simply by the image but the fact that the signage is associated with the brutal crusades unleashed on the Muslim world. The image in my view is celebrating and glorifying the battles with the Muslims and seems to be honouring decapitating/beheading Muslims.”
The term ‘Saracen’ was used to refer to Arabs since at least the 5th century and then later linked to Muslims, with the pub name ‘Saracen’s Head’ thought to be associated with the Crusades.
The Independent has approached Greene King and the Ministry of Justice for comment.
