An Indian engineer has claimed he has been rejected from 40 jobs because he shares a name with the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Saddam Hussain (whose name is spelt slightly differently) has now gone to court to change his name to Sajid, but says he does not blame his grandfather for giving him the dictator's name 25 years ago.

Despite graduating from Tamil Nadu's Norrul Islam University, the marine engineer from Jamshedpur in Kharkhand has said shipping companies have turned him away because of his name.

"People are scared to hire me," he told The Hindustan Times.

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He said each of his former classmates who qualified as engineers in 2014 have found employment but his name was holding him back.

"I inquired with the HR departments of the companies and some of them told me my name was the problem," he said.

He said they told him having a crew member with that name arouses suspicion and could complicate encounters with immigration officials.

Even after changing his name, Mr Hussain has struggled to find employment.

Although his passport, voter ID and driver licence now carry his new name, prospective employers have asked for his educational certificates which are in his old name.

Another court hearing is scheduled for early May to force authorities to change the name on his secondary school certificates. His graduation papers will then also need amending.

“I am an innocent victim of somebody else’s crimes,” he said.

Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Undated photo of Hussein Saddam Hussein was the president of Iraq from 1979 to 2003 Getty Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Hussein family photo Getty Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Hussein meets Donald Rumsfeld The pair met in 1983 when Rumsfeld was appointed US special envoy to the Middle East. He was later the Sec of Defence during the Iraq War 20 years later. Getty Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Hussein and his sons Saddam Hussein pictured with his sons Uday and Qusay Getty Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Hussein meets the Castros Saddam Hussein pictured with Fidel and Raul Castro in 1979 Getty Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Hussein and Yasser Arafat Hussein meets with the Palestinian president in 1988 in Gaza City Getty Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures The fall of Baghdad Soldiers observe as Iraqis tear down a statue of Hussein Getty Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Hussein captured US troops captured Hussein invasion in Dec 2003, months after the initial invasion Getty Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Verdict delivered Hussein was found guilty of crimes against humanity getty Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein in pictures Execution Hussein was executed in Baghdad on 30 December 2006 Getty

Numerous people in Iraq were also given the name Saddam Hussein in tribute to the fifth President of Iraq, who ruled from 1979 until he was deposed by the Allied coalition in 2003.