French authorities expelled Omar bin Ladenone of late Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden son, due to social media posts advocating terrorism, France’s interior minister Bruno Retailleau said on Tuesday.
Omar bin Laden, 43, was born in Saudi Arabia and has also lived in Sudan and Afghanistan before distancing himself from his father at age 19. He later settled in NormandyFrance, in 2016, where he pursued a career as a painter.
Retailleau, who recently took office as France’s new interior minister, said on X that Omar bin Laden had been residing in the Orne department of Normandy as the spouse of a British citizen.
He added that Omar bin Laden “posted comments on his social networks in 2023 that advocated terrorism,” prompting the prefect of Orne to issue an expulsion order.
Retailleau said, “I am today issuing an administrative ban on Mr. Omar Bin Laden, the eldest son of the international terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Mr. Bin Laden, who has lived in Orne for several years as the spouse of a British national, posted comments on his social networks in 2023 that were an apology for terrorism. As a result, the Prefect of Orne issued an OQTF and obtained Mr. Bin Laden’s departure. The courts have confirmed the regularity of this decision taken for national security. The administrative ban on the territory guarantees that Mr. Bin Laden will not be able to return to France for any reason whatsoever.”
“The courts have confirmed the legality of this decision taken in the interests of national security,” Retailleau affirmed. Additionally, the minister signed a ban preventing Omar bin Laden from re-entering France “for any reason whatsoever.” No further details were provided, and it remains unclear whether he has already left the country.
Omar bin Laden gained media attention in 2007 when he married British national Jane Felix-Browne, who later adopted the Muslim name Zaina Mohammed.
The marriage, marked by the couple’s significant age gap, sparked widespread interest. Omar’s application to reside in the UK was previously denied by British authorities.
Osama bin Laden, the son of a wealthy Saudi construction tycoon, reportedly fathered around two dozen children. He was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011.
Retailleau has pledged to tackle issues related to immigration and crime and said that “the rule of law is neither intangible nor sacred.” His appointment as interior minister reflects the French government’s shift to the right under the leadership of new Prime Minister Michel Barnier, following a hung parliament result in this summer’s legislative elections.
