French authorities have ordered Omar bin Laden, son of the late Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, to exit the country due to his social media activity, as announced by France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau on Tuesday.
Omar, 43, was born in Saudi Arabia and spent his formative years there, along with time in Sudan and Afghanistan. After separating from his father at the age of 19, he moved to Normandy in northern France in 2016, where he pursued a career in painting.
Retailleau shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Omar bin Laden resided in the Orne department of Normandy with a British national spouse. He stated, “Omar bin Laden posted comments on his social networks in 2023 that advocated terrorism.”
Consequently, the prefect of Orne issued an order for him to leave French territory. Retailleau confirmed, “The courts have confirmed the legality of this decision taken in the interests of national security.”
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He also noted that he signed a ban preventing Omar bin Laden “from returning to France for any reason whatsoever.”
Details regarding whether Omar bin Laden has already departed France remain unclear.
His marriage to British national Jane Felix-Browne in 2007, a grandmother who was over two decades older than him and had been divorced five times, attracted significant media attention. After the marriage, she adopted the Muslim name Zaina Mohammed. Omar had previously sought to reside in the UK, but his application was denied by British authorities.
Osama bin Laden, who was the son of a prominent Saudi construction tycoon, is thought to have fathered around two dozen children. He was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011.
Retailleau emphasized his commitment to establishing “order” in immigration and crime, asserting that “the rule of law is neither intangible nor sacred.” His recent appointment reflects a rightward shift in the French government under new Prime Minister Michel Barnier, following a hung parliament in the recent legislative elections.
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