France has banned one of the four sons of Osama bin Laden, founder of the terrorist organization Al Qaeda and responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks in the USA, from setting foot on French territory for terrorism apologia. Omar bin Laden, 43, had lived for several years in Normandy with his British partner, engaging in activities "as an artist" and selling his paintings. He left France in 2023 following an expulsion order.
That year, the son of the Al Qaeda mastermind posted a message on social media on the anniversary of his father's death, who was killed in Pakistan by US forces in 2011. The tweet read: "History is only written with the blood of these people, to tell the story of these martyrs who built nations and brought glory. Their blood is the sustenance of our faith until judgment day. Rest in peace." The tweet was deleted.
At that time, the prefect (government delegate) in the region issued an expulsion order for the terrorist's son for terrorism apologia. Osama bin Laden left France. Now, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, has decided to issue a definitive expulsion order, stating that he "will not be able to return to the country, regardless of the reason."
"I have just approved an administrative entry ban for Omar bin Laden, son of international terrorist Osama bin Laden. Established in Orne for years with his British partner, he has made terrorism apologia statements on his social media in 2023. Consequently, we have issued an order (...) Mr. Bin Laden will not be able to re-enter France," Bruno Retailleau tweeted.
His wife, Zania bin Laden, has defended him on television. First, she claimed that the words posted on Twitter at that time "were a quote from Winston Churchill." Later, she stated that her husband "never wrote this tweet." "He has never done anything wrong. He is a good person, he will never harm anyone. He is an artist who sells his paintings. He leads a truly peaceful life," the woman declared on BFM channel.
Omar bin Laden's partner insisted that the message was actually "written from a different country, from Yemen, by someone named Omar. When we saw it, we reported it on Twitter (now X), to say that it was not him who wrote it," she said on television. After the tweet was published, he was questioned, released, and ordered to leave the country.
"The courts have confirmed the legality of this decision [the expulsion order], made in the interest of national security. The administrative entry ban ensures that Mr. [Bin Laden] will not be able to return to France for any reason," the Interior Minister stated. This decision comes amid controversy over the recent statements by Retailleau, who argues that France needs to control immigration more.
Bin Laden's son lived in Orne, Normandy. Born in Saudi Arabia, where he spent his early years, he also lived in Sudan and Afghanistan. Later, he resided in several Arab countries before arriving in France and settling in Normandy in 2016. He worked as a painter and had appeared in the media several times.