Osama bin Laden’s artist son barred from returning to France over comments on terrorism

Son of Osama bin Laden banned from France for glorifying terrorism on social media, now residing in Qatar.

A son of Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has been barred from returning to France, where he lived for years painting landscapes in a Normandy village, after allegedly posting comments on social media deemed to have glorified terrorism.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he had signed an order banning Omar Binladin from France after the judiciary confirmed the legality of a prior deportation order issued on grounds of national security.

Mr. Retailleau gave no details about the timing of the deportation or where Mr. Binladin had been sent.

"Mr. Binladin, who has lived in the Orne region for several years as the spouse of a British national, posted comments on his social networks in 2023 that glorified terrorism," Mr. Retailleau said on X.

"The administrative ban ensures that Mr. Binladin cannot return to France for any reason whatsoever."

Mr. Binladin could not be reached for comment.

Pascal Martin, who helped Mr. inladin sell his paintings, described him as a man who opposed Islamist ideology, who earned a living from his artwork and paid his taxes. Mr. Binladin was currently in Qatar, Mr. Martin said.