French authorities have instructed a son of the late Al Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden, to depart from the country due to his social media posts, as announced by France’s interior minister. Born in Saudi Arabia, the son had lived in various countries before settling in Normandy, France, in 2016. The interior minister revealed that the son had made remarks promoting terrorism on social media in 2023, leading to an order for him to leave French territory. The decision was upheld by the courts for national security reasons, and a ban was imposed to prevent his return to France. Details on the son’s current whereabouts were not disclosed.
The son’s marriage to a British woman had garnered media attention in 2007, and his attempt to relocate to the UK was denied by British authorities. Osama bin Laden, who was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011, fathered numerous children. The appointment of a new interior minister in France reflects a shift towards stricter policies on immigration and crime. This move aligns with the government’s rightward shift under Prime Minister Michel Barnier following recent legislative elections.