Convicted terrorist sues Saracen's Head landlords over 'racist' pub signs
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 he has '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.
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.
The convicted jihadist said the sign of the Saracen's Head Inn 'incites violence'.
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
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 said he was confused as to how people could come from elsewhere and 'start saying what we can do' in British pubs.
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 terrorist threatening legal action
The Saracens Head in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, is one of the pubs now being targeted by Baqa
The Saracens Head in Bath
'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.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14229875/terrorist-Saracens-Head-landlords-racist-pub-sign-donate-winnings-Gaza-orphans.html
Baqa plans to extend his fight to 30 other establishments (pictured, The Saracen's Head in Hereford)
Another Saracens Head pub in Towcester, near Northampton, where punters were equally offended by Baqa and his demands
The Black Bitch pub in Linlithgow, West Lothian, before its name change to The Willow Tree
Outraged campaigners hoped to reverse the plans and more than 500 objections were submitted while a petition to stop the move gathered more than 11,000 names
According to local lore, 'The Black Bitch' dates back to the 17th century and was named after a black female greyhound (pictured above) that forms part of the town's crest
Animal rights activists have demanded the Sly Old Fox pub in Birmingham (pictured) change its name because it is 'derogatory' towards foxes
PETA has argued words like 'sly' contribute to foxes' negative reputation as pests
This pub is said to date back to AD793, which would make it the oldest in England, according to Guinness World Records.
PETA says the pub's name 'calls to mind the violence and cruelty of a hideous blood sport that has been outlawed in the UK for more than a century'
This sign tells the legend that Oliver Cromwell stayed at the pub for one night during the Civil War, stabling his horse in what is now the bar
The Black Boy Inn, in Bewdley, Worcestershire, was renamed The Bewdley Inn 'because of the Black Lives Matter movement'
The pub was previously known as The Black Boy Inn in honour of King Charles II, whom was referred to as the 'black boy' because it was a nickname given to him by his mother due to his dark hair and complexion
The Blacks Head (pictured) in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, also changed its name in the wake of Black Lives Matter - despite locals insisting the name comes from a bottle of ginger beer
The Saracens Head Inn was taken to court by convicted terrorist Khalid Baqa due to its sign depicting a man of Arabic descent
Huh Withly and Nikki Williams said they did not think the pub sign was offensive at all
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Even Holland has them
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And Australia
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Olden Days
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