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France Expels Omar Bin Laden for Glorifying Terrorism
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced on Tuesday the expulsion of Omar bin Laden, one of the sons of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, from France. Omar had been living in a town in the Normandy region for several years, where he practiced landscape painting.
He has also been banned from returning to France due to comments deemed to "glorify terrorism" that he posted on social media, according to Retailleau.
The minister explained that he signed an order barring Omar bin Laden from entering France after his expulsion, although he did not specify the date of the expulsion or the destination to which he was sent.
Retailleau stated on the platform X: "Mr. bin Laden, who lived in the Orne region for several years as the husband of a British citizen, posted comments glorifying terrorism on his social media accounts in 2023." He added that the administrative ban also prevents him from returning to France for any reason.
Reuters was unable to reach bin Laden for comment.
The local newspaper "Le Publicateur Libre" reported that French authorities began paying attention to Omar bin Laden after a post on social media in celebration of his father’s birthday, Osama bin Laden, who was killed by U.S. forces in 2011. The newspaper also noted in July 2023 that police were searching for bin Laden in the town of Domfront in Normandy.
