French authorities have ordered Omar bin Laden, the son of the late Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, to leave the country following his posts on social media that allegedly advocated terrorism. This announcement was made by France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, on Tuesday.
Omar bin Laden, 43, originally from Saudi Arabia, has lived in various countries, including Sudan and Afghanistan. He distanced himself from his father at the age of 19 and settled in Normandy, northern France, in 2016, where he pursued a career in painting.
Retailleau stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Omar bin Laden lived in the Orne department of Normandy as the spouse of a British national. He confirmed that the prefect of Orne issued an order for Omar bin Laden to leave French territory due to his social media activity, which was deemed a threat to national security. The courts have upheld the legality of this decision.
In addition to the expulsion order, Retailleau signed a ban preventing Omar bin Laden from returning to France for any reason. Specific details regarding his departure from France remain unclear.
Omar bin Laden’s marriage to British woman Jane Felix-Browne, who converted to Islam and took the name Zaina Mohammed, attracted significant media attention when it was confirmed in 2007. Their relationship was notable due to the substantial age difference, as Felix-Browne was over two decades older than Omar bin Laden and had been divorced five times previously. Although Omar sought to live in the UK, his application was rejected by British authorities.
Osama bin Laden, who was killed by U.S. special forces in Pakistan in 2011, is believed to have had around two dozen children.
Retailleau’s firm stance on immigration and crime reflects a broader rightward shift in the French government under Prime Minister Michel Barnier, particularly following the contentious legislative elections this summer that resulted in a hung parliament.