French authorities have ordered Omar bin Laden, the son of slain Al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, to leave France due to social media posts deemed to support terrorism, according to the country’s interior minister, Bruno Retailleau.
Omar, 43, who lived in Normandy since 2016, had moved to France with his British wife, Jane Felix-Browne, who took the name Zaina Mohammed after their marriage.
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Retailleau, in an announcement made on X (formerly Twitter), said that Omar bin Laden had made online comments in 2023 promoting terrorist ideologies.
As a result, the prefect of Orne issued a deportation order against Omar.
Retailleau further stated that the courts upheld the expulsion order for reasons of national security. In addition to the deportation, Omar has been banned from re-entering France.
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Born in Saudi Arabia, Omar spent much of his youth in Sudan and Afghanistan but distanced himself from his father at age 19.
After his father’s death, Omar pursued a career as an artist in France.
His marriage to Jane Felix-Browne in 2007 attracted widespread media attention, largely due to their age difference and her previous marriages.
Although Omar attempted to live in the UK with his wife, British authorities denied his request for residency.
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Interior Minister Retailleau, newly appointed in line with the government’s more conservative stance under Prime Minister Michel Barnier, emphasized his commitment to tougher policies on immigration and security, vowing to uphold national interests over concerns about the rule of law.
It remains unclear whether Omar bin Laden has already left France.