A son of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been prohibited from returning to France, as announced by the country's interior minister.
Omar bin Laden, 43, has lived in Normandy for several years, where he has made a living by painting landscape portraits. However, new Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has signed an order banning his return to France, accusing him of posting content on social media last year that "glorified terrorism."
Omar bin Laden left France in 2023 after officials revoked his residency permit for two years due to these posts, which reportedly commemorated the anniversary of his father's death. He has resided in France since 2016, having obtained a residency permit through his marriage to UK citizen Zaina Mohamed Al-Sabah, formerly known as Jane Felix-Browne.
Retailleau stated that the order now permanently prohibits Omar bin Laden from returning to France "for any reason whatsoever." Following his expulsion, he is believed to have returned to Qatar, where he previously lived with his wife.
Born in Saudi Arabia, Omar bin Laden is the fourth oldest son of the al-Qaeda leader. He distanced himself from his father in 2000 after training at jihadist camps in Afghanistan, expressing a desire not to be associated with civilian deaths.
Over the years, he has harbored complex feelings toward his father. In his 2009 memoir, he described his upbringing in often dire circumstances as his father evaded international intelligence agencies. While he has publicly denounced his father’s violent actions globally, some critics have accused him of being an apologist for Osama bin Laden, referring to him as a "kind" man who adhered to a strict religious and moral code.
After Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011, Omar claimed that his father was denied a proper burial, stating that the US violated international law. Osama bin Laden was buried at sea after his remains were taken to a US base in Afghanistan for identification.
Friends of Omar bin Laden quickly condemned the ban on Tuesday. Pascal Martin, who assisted him in selling his paintings, told Reuters that Omar has completely renounced radical Islamism. “We became friends, and I can assure you that nothing being said reflects the Omar I know,” he remarked.
Interior Minister Retailleau is recognized as one of the most right-wing members of the new government led by conservative Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Since his appointment in September, he has pledged to reduce immigration in an effort to “combat political Islam.” Critics have described Retailleau’s appointment as a clear manifestation of the "reactionary right taking power."
Credit:BBC.
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