A convicted terrorist, who is suing a pub called the Saracen’s Head over its ‘offensive’ name, vows to give potential court winnings to Gazan orphans.
Khalid Baqa, who was jailed for four years for preparing jihadist propaganda, sparked outrage by launching a £2,000 compensation bid against The Saracen’s Head Inn in Chesham, Buckinghamshire.
He previously described the ‘depiction of a bearded Arab/Turk’ on the pub’s sign as racist and suggested the depiction ‘incites violence’.
After threatening two other pubs with the same name with legal action, Baqa has said his ‘always been offended’ with the signage due to the use of the word ‘head’.
Speaking with the Telegraph, he said that the name was associated with Crusaders who would bring the decapitated head of Muslim soldiers as a type of ‘trophy’ following battles in the Holy Land.
‘If the [word] ‘head’ is removed from the caption, I would have no issue with any pub in the UK,’ he said.
But Robbie Hayes – owner of the the Buckinghamshire Saracen’s Head is adamant he is ‘stubborn enough not to remove or amend the name’, undeterred by the threat of legal action.
Baqa who is suing the pub over the image on its signs has declared that if he is successful the proceeds will go to ‘orphans in Gaza or Syria‘.
Khalid Baqa, who was jailed for four years for preparing jihadist propaganda, sparked outrage by launching a £2,000 compensation bid against The Saracen’s Head Inn in Buckinghamshire
The convicted jihadist said the sign of the Saracen’s Head Inn ‘incites violence’. He has since vowed to donate his possible court winnings to Syrian and Gazan orphans
Peter Dillingham. who owns the eponymous 17th century tavern in Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, said it was ‘frankly ridiculous’ that an ex-terrorist was scared of a sign.
Simon Belsey, 49, who runs Grade I-listed Saracen’s Head next to the River Wye in Hereford, has received two letters from the 60-year-old threatening legal action.
Meanwhile, Peter Dillingham, 59, the owner of a 17th-century hostelry with the same name in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, has received emails threatening to ‘escalate matters’ if he does not change its name within two weeks.
Mr Belsey, who took over his 300-year-old pub in May, said he could be forced to close if he loses a civil action.
In a conversation with the Telegraph, he was confused as to how people could come from elsewhere and ‘start saying what we can do’ in British pubs.
Replying to Mr Belsey’s comments, Baqa said he would be willing to offer the landlord a ‘hefty discount’, adding that he no longer wants to sue all 30 pubs with the same name.
Inside one corner of the pub is a fireplace are half a dozen ornaments featuring the venue’s symbol.
Another member of staff at the pub, who asked not to be named, said it was ‘madness’ for the convicted jihadi to demand the name be changed.
Simon Belsey, 49, who runs The Saracen’s Head next to the River Wye in Hereford, (pictured) has received two letters from the 60-year-old threatening legal action
The Saracens Head in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, is one of the two pubs now being targeted by Baqa
‘You cannot whitewash history. The name has been around for hundreds of years and it is what it is,’ said one worker.
A third added: ‘This man needs to get a life. What makes it worse is that he is a convicted terrorist.’
Baqa’s bizarre legal action against The Saracen’s Head Inn in Chesham was revealed last week.
Pub landlord Robbie Hayes vowed to fight back against the lawsuit – and he is being backed by other Saracens Head establishments across the UK.
MailOnline visited another Saracens Head pub in Towcester, near Northampton, where punters were equally offended by Baqa and his demands.
‘I think he has got a bloody cheek and should be told where to go,’ said one local.
‘What’s next? Will a pub called The White Lion be sued because someone is afraid of animals or because it has the word white in the name.
The Saracen’s Head in Kings Langley shows a man brandishing a sword and a shield
Inside one corner of the pub is a fireplace with half a dozen carved faces depicting the pub’s symbol
‘There are so many pubs with a rich history that you could question their name. It is utterly ridiculous.’
And referring to Baqa, Ian Frith said: ‘To be honest I am offended by his orange beard.
‘Even if the Saracens Head was called The Jihadi Arms it would not bother me.
‘There is so much these days that offends people and for no good reason that you become afraid to say anything.
‘I’ve never heard anyone complain about the name and have lived here for 20 years. It’s a local pub and people like it.’