The son of the late Islamist terrorist Osama bin Laden has been deported and banned from returning to France after his social media posts were deemed to glorify terrorism, according to the government.
On Tuesday, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said on the social media platform X that Omar bin Laden, who had been living in a quiet Normandy village since 2016, was expelled last year after posting an “apology for terrorism.”
Retailleau said he had signed an order banning bin Laden from France and that he had been deported, though he did not provide details about the deportation or where he was sent.
French newspaper Le Parisien reported that he now lives in Qatar. The newspaper said that last week, he lost a legal battle to overturn the ban on him returning to France.
“I am today issuing an administrative ban on Mr. Omar bin Laden, the eldest son of the international terrorist Osama bin Laden. Mr. bin Laden, who has lived in Orne for several years as the spouse of a British national, posted comments on his social networks in 2023 that were an apology for terrorism,” Retailleau said.
He added that bin Laden was subjected to a deportation measure by local authorities known as an “obligation to leave French territory.”
“The courts have confirmed the regularity of this decision taken for national security. The administrative ban on the territory guarantees that Mr. Bin Laden will not be able to return to France for any reason whatsoever,” he said.
The life of Omar bin Laden, an artist painting landscapes in Domfront-en-Poiraie, Normandy contrasted sharply with his father’s notorious figure in militant Islamism and once being killed by U.S Special Forces in 2011.
Omar bin laden has sought distance himself from al-Qaeda founder responsible for numerous attacks against United States including 9/11 attacks.
Both Omar Bin laden and his mother left Afghanistan before 9/11 attacks claim they have no contact with Osama Bin laden since then according book they wrote.
Arab News reported alleged tweet published May 2nd ,2023 coincided with anniversary of Osama Bin laden’s death.
However Epoch Times hasn’t located original post or confirm its content.
Epoch Times hasn’t reached out omar Bin laden comment
In interview with france3 news channel ,he told ”sometimes people judge you based your father”
He left afghanistan when he was nineteen traveled through various arab countries before settling down normandy france
“But here I feel very free.I feel free from responsibility my father actions.No one judges me they respect me i am left peace”he added
“In france i became artist”
According Reuters report osama family ranked among saudi arabia most powerful business families but changed prince mohammed grew influence