Article

2007-03-01 Europe

Berlin court upholds parents' right to name child "Jihad"

The German interior ministry is appealing against a decision by the Berlin authorities to allow an Islamist to name his son Jihad, the Arabic word used for holy war.

Reda Seyam fought for 18 months for permission to give his sixth child the name after the registry in the Berlin district of Charlottenburg initially rejected his application, saying the name was inappropriate because of its association with terrorism, and "may endanger the child". This week a court overturned the ruling, on the grounds that Jihad was "a recognised male forename in the Arab world and loved by Muslims".

Mr Seyam, 47, a self-declared Islamist, was shown on television this week presenting his son. Grinning into the camera, Jihad on his knee, he said: "You had barely come into the world and you were in court. Your fight has already begun." In the same programme he defended the terror attacks on the United States on September 11 2001, and on Bali in 2002.

Germany has strict rules governing the naming of children. Parents have to choose from a list of court-approved names, to prevent a child from becoming a victim of ridicule or confusion. The names Hitler and Stalin are banned, and in 2002 a Turkish couple living in Germany were denied permission to name their child Osama bin Laden.

Berlin's interior minister, Erhart Körting, said a court that allowed "a father who has welcomed al-Qaida attacks to name his child in this way has underestimated in an appallingly naive manner the meaning of this name".

Posted by ryuge 2007-03-01 08:12|| || Front Page|| [11134 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Parents have to choose from a list of court-approved names, to prevent a child from becoming a victim of ridicule or confusion.

So Germany has only court-approved names!?! Thought they were opposed to that Fascism thingey. Oh, BTW its OK to name your child Ute, Elfi, Udo, or Uwe.

Posted by DepotGuy 2007-03-01 09:46|| 2007-03-01 09:46|| Front Page Top

#2 ...an Islamist to name his son Jihad, the Arabic word used for holy war.

So if I called my kid "Kampf" that would mean "peaceful inner struggle"?

Martin Luther is spinning in his grave.

Posted by Excalibur 2007-03-01 11:30|| 2007-03-01 11:30|| Front Page Top

#3 I've always thought German law was very weird in this regard, but as it was explained to me, names must be clearly identifiable as male or female. I suppose Jihad is a popular, recognizable male name -- but not to German ears.

As for that fascism thingy, it still pervades much of daily European life. In Germany and The Netherlands, citizens are required to register with the town hall anytime they move -- no such thing as existing anonymously. In Belgium, voting is compulsory: there is no freedom to choose not to vote. And don't get me started on taxes -- church tax, TV tax, dog tax, etc etc. The petty fascisms of daily existence are still very much alive and well in Europe.

Posted by exJAG 2007-03-01 12:53|| 2007-03-01 12:53|| Front Page Top

#4 I was listening to a Univesity of Cincinnati basketball game last year. They had a senior on the team named: Jihad Mohammed.

Yeah, the punk kid can't be blamed for what his mommy and daddy named him some 20 years ago, but I've lost my sense of humor about certain things that once upon a time I didn't care about. Words (names) matter.

Posted by Mark Z">Mark Z 2007-03-01 14:05|| 2007-03-01 14:05|| Front Page Top

#5 One must register residency at the town hall in Belgium, too. And one's cars, upon which a tax is paid, based on engine size, I think.

Posted by trailing wife 2007-03-01 17:58|| 2007-03-01 17:58|| Front Page Top

#6 I know a man whose last name is "Vagina" pronounced like the female part, I asked him "Why didn't he change it?" he said "It's unique, And people never forget it," He's a Better man than I am, I'd have to change it from sheer embarrasment.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2007-03-01 19:55|| 2007-03-01 19:55|| Front Page Top

#7 Jihad was "a recognised male forename in the Arab world and loved by Muslims"

Why, yes i have noticed an afinity for Jihad in the Arab world...

Posted by Abu do you love 2007-03-01 22:35|| 2007-03-01 22:35|| Front Page Top

#8 I work with an engineer, named Jihad, and he's a US citizen, nicest guy, beer-drinking sombitch... unfortunate name

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2007-03-01 22:56|| 2007-03-01 22:56|| Front Page Top

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