Growing Up Bin Laden - Jean P. Sasson [179]
OMAR
Najwa’s fourth child and fourth son was born in Jeddah in 1981. Omar was the son closest to his mother and the son who most vigorously rebelled against his father and his Jihad. In fact, it has been Omar’s dream to counter his father’s violent Jihad by organizing a peace movement that will find a better way to solve cultural and religious differences.
After leaving Afghanistan for the final time in 2001, Omar has met many challenges. Although successful in having his Saudi citizenship restored, it has been difficult for Omar to find his place in the business world. Omar married and had one son, Ahmed. When traveling in Egypt, Omar met a woman from Great Britain. The couple fell in love, bringing his first marriage to an end. Since that time, Omar has become even more passionate in calling for an end to violence, longing for the bin Laden name to become linked with peace rather than with terrorism. Wishing to join his wife to live in the United Kingdom, where he believes he will find it easier to form a peace movement, Omar applied for a routine marriage visa. Problems arose with his visa application, resulting in a quest for political asylum. Finally, through the generosity of the government of Qatar, Omar and his wife settled there while waiting for his visa. At the time of writing, Omar has returned to Saudi Arabia, the country he loves most. In 2009, Omar was twenty-eight years old.
OSMAN
Najwa’s fifth child and fifth son was born in 1983 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In 2001 Osman married the daughter of Egyptian Mohammed Shawky al-Islam-bouli, a high-ranking member of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman’s al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya group and who was closely affliated with Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda group. Osman’s father-in-law, along with 107 other defendants, had previously been indicted in 1997 by the Egyptian government in the conspiracy to assassinate President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, as well as other Egyptian leaders. Al-Islambouli’s brother, Khalid, was infamous for being the lead assassin of President Sadat on October 6, 1981. Khalid had shouted, “Death to Pharaoh” as he ran toward Sadat to shoot him. Khalid was arrested and at trial found guilty of the crime and executed the following year, in April 1982. Osama would not allow Osman or his wife to leave Afghanistan with Najwa. Rumors have circululated that Osman escaped from Afghanistan during the October/November 2001 bombings by the American government, along with Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, but there is no firm evidence of this. Najwa does not know the fate of her fifth-born son or his wife. If still alive in 2009, Osman would be twenty-six years old.
MOHAMMED
Najwa’s sixth child and sixth son was born in 1985 in Jeddah. Omar reports that Mohammed was his father’s second choice for his successor as head of al-Qaeda. (Up until he expressed his disapproval of violence, Omar had been his father’s first choice.) Omar also says that of all his brothers, Mohammed is the only brother possessing some of the qualities necessary to assume an important position in his father’s organization. After marrying the daughter of Abu Hafs in 2000, Mohammed was the most content of the sons to remain behind with his father. Najwa does not know the fate of her son or of his wife. If still alive in 2009, Mohammed would be twenty-four years old.
FATIMA
Najwa’s seventh child and first daughter was born in Medina in 1987. After Omar suggested a groom, Osama then arranged for the marriage of Fatima to a Saudi fighter named Mohammed in 1999 when Fatima was twelve years old. Her husband was killed in the American attacks of October and November 2001. Najwa does not know the fate of her first daughter, although it is believed that she is living in the Pakistani tribal hinterlands near her father. If still alive in 2009, Fatima would be twenty-two years old.
IMAN
Najwa’s eighth child and second daughter was born in Jeddah in 1990. Iman was only eleven years old when her mother left Afghanistan on September 9, 2001. Osama refused Najwa’s request