Court allows suspected terrorist to name son 'Jihad'

Published: 2 Sep 09 10:47 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20090902-21645.html

After a three-year legal battle, an Islamist under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has been allowed to name his young son “Jihad,” daily Bild reported on Wednesday.

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Berlin’s upper regional court recently ruled in favour of Reda Seyam's petition to name his son the Arabic word for “holy war,” spelled "Djehad" in German. The boy is now four years old after protracted legal wrangling that will be covered by taxpayer money, the paper reported.

Germany has strict naming laws, making it illegal for parents to name their children whatever they like. But according to the court, “Jihad” is a common Arabic name, making its association with radical Islamist terrorism irrelevant.

But according to the paper, this was exactly the sense in which the 49-year-old Egyptian-German father intended for the name to be interpreted.

The German intelligence agency believes that Seyam was a mastermind in the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 200. Meanwhile Munich public prosecutors recently accused him and seven of his followers of inciting young German converts to Islam to wage holy war.

After 15 years of marriage, his first wife sought refuge under Germany’s witness protection programme. He has six children with his second wife – for whom he earns some €2,300 in state welfare each month, the paper reported.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

11:55 September 2, 2009 by jennieerin73

Who cares what he names his kid. Why is he still in the country, receiving aid no less?

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16:35 September 2, 2009 by T Gonzaga

What a monstrous irony. An immigrant succored and sheltered by a Western democracy and living on its' public support. All the while, this medieval man lives on espousing hatred of his host, plotting against it and demeaning the mocern culture that has sheltered him. This phenomenon is reaching pandemic proportions in all our Western democracies. In fact, it is the underlying point of the American novel titled "Up Dog Street." The authors conclusion: Birthplace and heritage mean nothing. Nurture is everything. Either we foster assimilation or we will sow the seeds of democracy's destruction by pandering to men such as this one.

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20:14 September 2, 2009 by ahmdsamir

I believe the man is innocent from any wrong doing unless a court say otherwise. Just because the Authorities are paranoid about every devout Muslim and shooting the word suspect at everybody doesn't make him a criminal.

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07:49 September 3, 2009 by Immigrant09

Stop reporting nonsense! Those people should be ignored by the German and they'll disappeared. Stop digging after every person with "mental health problems" to turning him into a 'f' terrorist.

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09:09 September 3, 2009 by LMB222

ahmdsamir, nobody said he was guilty - he's just suspected, hehe

But seriously, I pity the situation you're in. Not your fault, but what can you do other than quit the 'religion of peace' and change your first name?

Also, have you failed to notice that most Europeans would never name their kid Jesus, Crusade, or similar?

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16:47 September 4, 2009 by Brugge

Are you two joking? A suspected terrorist leader is naming his son jihad and you can only accuse people of racism when they find something wrong with that? First off, what do you think he plans to do with a son named that? Clearly, the man is linked some way with terrorist activities, is publicly known as this, and naming his son that, how do you think he is going to raise him? There will simply be another terrorist to follow his father. Second, I am sure tired of your one issue nonsense, whenever a muslim commits crimes the only thing your group does is defend islam and immigrants, because obviously theres no connection between immigrants and islam and terrorism and crime (right?) instead of admitting that whoever is doing the crime (terrorist, firebomber) needs to come to justice.

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16:50 September 4, 2009 by Deccie

The poor kid, boy will he get teased in school.

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