Osama Bin Laden’s son banned from re-entering France

In a recent interview, we delved into the contentious decision made by the French government to bar Omar Bin Laden, the son of notorious al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, from returning to France. Bruno Retailleau, the new Interior Minister, announced that Omar, 43, has been permanently forbidden from entering the country. This move follows accusations that he had shared content on social media last year that was said to “glorify terrorism.”

Omar, who lived in Normandy for several years and earned a living as a landscape painter, left France in 2023 after his residency permit was revoked over these allegations. Reports suggest that the posts in question were associated with the anniversary of his father’s death.

Originally, Omar was granted a residency permit in France in 2016 due to his marriage to UK citizen Zaina Mohamed Al-Sabah, who was formerly known as Jane Felix-Browne. However, the recent order from Minister Retailleau has now prevented him from returning to France “for any reason whatsoever.” Following his expulsion, it’s believed that Omar has returned to Qatar, where he had lived previously with his wife.

Born in Saudi Arabia, he is the fourth-oldest son of Osama Bin Laden. Omar publicly distanced himself from his father’s ideology and criminal activities in 2000, after spending time in jihadist training camps in Afghanistan. He expressed a desire not to be linked to the deaths of civilians. His complicated relationship with his father was examined in his 2009 memoir, which portrayed the difficulties of his upbringing amid his father’s evasion of international attention.

While Omar has vocally condemned his father’s acts of violence, some critics label him an apologist for Osama’s actions, pointing to his characterization of his father as a “kind” man with a stringent moral compass. Following Osama’s death in Pakistan in 2011, Omar claimed that U.S. forces violated international law by failing to give his father a dignified burial; Osama was buried at sea after identification procedures at a U.S. base in Afghanistan.

Despite the ban, friends of Omar have stepped forward to defend him. Pascal Martin, a friend who aided him in selling his artwork, expressed skepticism regarding the allegations and asserted that Omar has entirely renounced radical Islamism. “We became friends, and I can tell you that nothing being reported aligns with the Omar I know,” he remarked.

Interior Minister Retailleau, recognized for his right-wing views, has emphasized that reducing immigration is a key priority, presenting this agenda as part of a wider campaign against political Islam. Critics contend that his ascent reflects a reactionary trend within the French government.