Bin Laden’s son barred from territory

Omar Bin Laden, a son of the jihadist Osama Bin Laden who settled in western France in 2018, has been notified of an administrative ban from French territory and can no longer return to the country, the government announced on Tuesday. Minister of the Interior, based in a village in Normandy (west) “for several years as the spouse of a British national”, Omar Bin Laden “received comments on his social networks in 2023 that were an apology for terrorism”. , justified Bruno Retailleau on X.

“As a result, the prefect of Orne took an OQTF”, an obligation to leave French territory, and “obtained the departure” of Omar Bin Laden, he added in his tweet. According to the prefecture, Osama Bin Laden’s son had left France “voluntarily” in October 2023 when the decision was notified to him. Founder of the jihadist organization Al-Qaeda and mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, Osama Bin Laden was killed in May 2011 in Pakistan by American special forces.

It was on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of Osama Bin Laden, in May 2023, that comments glorifying terrorism and glorifying Al-Qaeda were published on a Twitter account (now X) in the name of Omar Bin Laden, an account now suspended. The prefect then made a report to the public prosecutor’s office. If Omar Bin Laden, 43 years old, “denied being the author of the reprehensible comments on his social networks, which the current criminal investigation aims to clarify, it is nonetheless established that these illicit contents were indeed been welcomed” on his social networks and that he did not remove or condemn them, according to the prefecture.

“In view of the risks to public order and national security”, the prefect also withdrew Omar Bin Laden’s residence permit and issued him with an OQTF with a two-year return ban, the legal maximum. This decision was notified on October 27, 2023 to the person concerned, who had filed an appeal. The Caen administrative court confirmed the validity of the decision on October 4, specifies the prefecture.

A “fragile” man

Born in Saudi Arabia where he spent his early years, Omar Bin Laden also lived in Sudan and then in Afghanistan. After leaving his father at the age of 19, he lived a life of roaming in several Arab countries until his arrival in France and settling in the village of Domfront-en-Poiraie, where he devoted himself especially in painting.

According to Pascal Martin, 64, close to Omar Bin Laden and who presents himself as his artistic agent, the latter, “psychologically ill”, had not been informed on Tuesday of this ban from the territory. “He lives in Qatar and we decided with his wife not to inform him. He is too fragile, if he finds out it will hurt him a lot,” assured his friend contacted by AFP.

“This decision is completely crazy, inconceivable (…) He had a difficult life, he is the first victim of terrorism. Being the son of Osama Bin Laden was a test for him,” declared Mr. Martin . “In none of his comments have I heard him advocate terrorism. He is incapable of promoting September 11, he says that his life stopped that day,” insists the agent. Omar bin Laden.

“It’s scandalous,” says Harry Atterton, an 87-year-old Briton and also a friend of Omar Bin Laden. “He has managed to separate himself from all of his father’s ideology” and is “not involved in politics at all.” “The accusation made against him is unfounded,” he believes, referring to a “a little shy” man who “doesn’t talk much but is a generous guy.” “There are thousands of potential terrorists who should have left France, but they chose Omar (Ben Laden),” laments the octogenarian.