A convicted terrorist is taking the Saracen's Head Inn to court, where he claims its sign depicting a bearded man wearing a turban incites violence and scares him. Khalid Baqa, 60, who has spent time behind bars for preparing jihadi propaganda, is suing the Amersham pub, located in Buckinghamshire, for £1,850. If successful, the lawsuit might also pave the way for him to sue over 30 more establishments with the same name.
Baqa describes the pub’s sign as 'deeply offensive' and 'xenophobic,' alleging it instills fear and worry whenever he sees it. According to Baqa, the representation of what he calls 'a brown-skinned bearded Arab/Turk' incites violence. Baqa stated, 'I was shocked and deeply offended by what I saw,' claiming it was not just insensitive but constituted racism.
Landlord Robbie Hayes, who operates the pub, responded to Baqa’s claims with disbelief, calling them 'a complete joke.' He noted, 'This 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.' Hayes asserts the name and depiction on the sign hold historic significance rather than racial connotations, adding, 'No one at this pub is racist, we don’t believe the sign is racist and the name is simply historic.'
The term 'Saracen' historically referred to Muslims and Arabs during the Middle Ages, particularly linked to the Crusades. Hayes draws upon this historical backdrop to defend the pub's long-standing name choice, emphasizing, 'We won’t be pushed around and change hundreds of years of history just because some loudmouth wants to cause trouble.'
Baqa, who was jailed for four years and eight months after pleading guilty to five counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, insists he has been offended by pub names like the Saracen's Head for years but only recently discovered how to pursue legal action against them. He mentioned to The Sun, 'I’ve stopped all the terrorism stuff now.' Still, many are left questioning the validity of his lawsuits.
Legal experts highlight the unique nature of such cases where individuals assert offense based on cultural depictions. It raises questions about freedom of expression versus allegations of hate speech, as well as how historical names fit within contemporary society.
Following his court filing, Baqa claims he ensured his voice was heard by reaching out to the pub multiple times, even alleging he visited the venue to express his discontent. Yet the pub's staff maintain no record of his complaints or visits, complicate Baqa's narrative.
Hayes is not alone among the publicans facing similar challenges. Last month, the owners of another Greene King establishment, also named after a controversial term, faced complaints about The Midget. A petition defending the name garnered thousands of signatures, emphasizing the cultural origins of pub names.
Opponents of Baqa's lawsuit like Toby Young from the Free Speech Union criticize his actions as hypocritical, citing his background: '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.' Such statements underline the contentious dialogue surrounding his legal challenge.
Should Baqa succeed, it may open the floodgates for similar claims, leading to potential widespread rebranding of establishments with historical or colonial contexts. The Saracen's Head Inn, meanwhile, stands resolute, insisting they will not alter their heritage based solely on one individual's complaints.
Whether his claim gains traction remains to be seen, but the lawsuit has undoubtedly sparked broader discussions about the intersections of historical terminology, cultural sensitivity, and the modernization of pub names across the UK.
For now, the Saracen's Head Inn continues to operate under its historic name amid growing scrutiny, with Bailey committed to preserving the legacies behind the words and symbols.
