by A landlord has defended his pub after a convicted terrorist said he was “deeply offended” by its “racist” poster.
Khalid Baqa – who was previously jailed for broadcasting jihadist content – is seeking hundreds of pounds in a civil action against the Saracen’s Head Inn in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, over its sign “depicting an Arab man /bearded Turkish man with brown skin and wearing a turban.” , which, according to him, “incites violence”.
Calling the legal action “ridiculous”, owner Robbie Hayes, 52, said The Independent he received a letter from Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service at the end of November, containing a “list of demands” made by Baqa, 60 years old.
According to Mr. Hayes, who vehemently denies these accusations, Baqa wants compensation for “racist sign”, “xenophobia” and “incitement to racial violence against a specific race”.
The 52-year-old, from Amersham, told this publication: “It’s ridiculous. I don’t think he has a leg to stand on. It has been called Buckwheat’s Head for 500 years. Why, overnight, did Khalid Baqa take offense? I don’t think one man can change the historic name of a pub that has had that name for 500 years because he doesn’t like it. It’s ridiculous.
The Sun reported that Baqa intended to launch similar legal action against dozens of other pubs named The Saracen’s Head across the UK if he was successful in his current complaint – although he has since declared The Independent he has no intention of doing 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 is said to have filed a “money claim” form, which is an application to the county court to obtain an amount of money that someone says is owed to them.
According to documents consulted by The Independenthis statement reads: “As I walked around the area, I was shocked and deeply offended by what I saw. I saw a pub signage depicting a brown-skinned, bearded Arab/Turkish man with a turban and captioned “The Buckwheat’s Head”.
“This caused me concern and fear because it was clearly xenophobic, racist and incited violence against certain people. I immediately complained to the pub and asked for the signage to be removed.
The Sun reported that he alleged he contacted the pub four times and went there in person – however Mr Hayes said The Independent his pub has no record of it.
Baqa was jailed for two years in 2013 after admitting to having 300 computer disks containing terrorist material in his car and home. He was imprisoned again five years later for distributing jihadist CDs and leaflets.
In a written statement to The IndependentBaqa said he first discovered the pub sign while planning a walking tour in the Chiltern Hills. He said that if he was successful, the money would be donated to orphans in Gaza or Syria.
He said: “I am not offended simply by the image but by the fact that the signage is associated with the brutal crusades launched against the Muslim world. In my opinion, the image celebrates and glorifies battles with Muslims and seems to honor the beheading/beheading of Muslims.
The term ‘Sarrasin’ had been used to refer to Arabs since at least the 5th century, then later linked to Muslims, with the pub name ‘Tête de Sarrasin’ considered to be associated with the Crusades.
The Independent contacted Greene King and the Department of Justice for comment.
