French authorities have ordered Omar bin Laden, son of the late Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, to leave the country due to his social media posts advocating terrorism. France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, announced the decision on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Omar bin Laden had been living in Normandy as the spouse of a British national.
Retailleau explained that Omar bin Laden’s social media posts in 2023 promoted terrorism, prompting the prefect of Orne to issue an order for him to leave French territory. The courts have since confirmed the legality of this decision, citing national security concerns.
The minister also signed a ban preventing Omar bin Laden from returning to France for any reason. However, it is unclear whether Omar has already left the country.
Omar bin Laden, 43, was born in Saudi Arabia and spent time in Sudan and Afghanistan before settling in Normandy in 2016. He had previously left his father’s side at 19 and taken up painting. His marriage to British woman Jane Felix-Browne, who converted to Islam and took the name Zaina Mohammed, drew significant media attention in 2007.
Omar’s attempt to live in the UK was rejected by British authorities. His father, Osama bin Laden, was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011.
Interior Minister Retailleau has pledged to enforce strict immigration and crime policies, emphasizing that the rule of law must be upheld.
