Omar Bin Laden, son of Osama Bin Laden, was banned from entering France after terrorist comments on his social networks, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau declared on October 8.
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Omar bin Laden, a son of the jihadist Osama bin Laden who had settled in the west of the France in 2018, was notified of an administrative ban from French territory and can no longer return to the country, announced the Minister of the Interior.
Installed in a village in Normandy (west) “ for several years as the spouse of a British national “, Omar bin Laden “ hosted comments on its social networks in 2023 that were an apology for terrorism », justified Bruno Retailleau on X.
As a result, the prefect of the department of Orne (locally representing the French State) decided on an Obligation to Leave French Territory (OQTF) and “ got the start » of Omar bin Laden, he added. “ Justice confirmed the legality of this decision taken for national security. The administrative ban on the territory guarantees the impossibility for Mr. (Bin Laden) to return to France for any reason whatsoever. », continued the minister.
According to the prefecture, Osama bin Laden’s son had left ” voluntarily » France in October 2023 when the decision was notified to it.
A decision notified in October 2023
It was on the occasion of the anniversary of the death of Osama Bin Laden, in May 2023, that comments glorifying terrorism and glorifying Al-Qaeda were published on an account Twitter (now X) in the name of Omar Bin Laden, an account now suspended.
The prefect then made a report to the public prosecutor’s office. If Omar bin Laden, 43 years old, “ denied being the author of the reprehensible comments on his social networks, which the current criminal investigation aims to clarify, it is nonetheless established that this illicit content was well received » on his social networks and that he has not removed or condemned them, according to the prefecture.
“ Considering the risks to public order and national security “, the prefect also withdrew Omar Bin Laden’s residence permit and issued him an OQTF with a two-year return ban, the legal maximum.
This decision was notified on October 27, 2023 to the person concerned, who had filed an appeal. The Caen administrative court confirmed the validity of the decision on October 4, specifies the prefecture.
The prefectures’ room for maneuver in matters of expulsion
In France, in the majority of cases, it is up to the prefecture to pronounce, notify and execute removal measures. We often talk about the OQTF, the Obligation to leave the territory, but it is not the only procedure provided for by law. While awaiting expulsion: it is also up to the prefecture to decide whether the person remains free to move or whether they must be placed in detention.
The prefect does not, however, have all the powers: if a national does not have a travel document, he needs a pass and that is up to the consulate of the sending country to decide whether to issue it or No. Then, the eviction can be stopped or canceled by the judiciary if it considers that it is not legal. The judge can always order the Prefecture to re-examine a situation and issue a residence permit to someone who had been notified of a removal order.
It then remains to respect court decisions. Something that is not always done, according to the Cimade association which frequently notes irregularities in the French administration. Since January 2024, it is the Asylum and immigration law which establishes who can be expelled and how. The Ministry of the Interior, unless there is a new law, can only give instructions to the prefects – via circulars – to request strict application of the text.