JEDDAH, 21 October — Abdullah Osama Bin Laden, the eldest son of Osama Bin Laden, refuted recent false press reports, which said he had recently been to Pakistan. In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat Arabic newspaper, he felt that the media had played a major role in labeling his father a terrorist.
In the interview, Abdullah discussed his journeys with his father from his childhood until he was 17. He said he moved to Saudi Arabia in 1995, adding that his decision to return to the Kingdom was personal. “I decided to come back to Saudi Arabia about seven years ago, after discussing the matter with my father,” he said.
Abdullah is now 24 years old. Calm and collected, he resembles his father. His secondary education was in Sudan. He has attended a number of English language and computer science courses. Abdullah says he married after his return to the Kingdom. He works with his uncle Saleh Bin Laden in the contracting business. Following is the text of the interview:
Q: When did you return to Saudi Arabia?
A: I have been living in the Kingdom since 1995. Before that I was with my father in Sudan. We were not leading an ascetic life as some people thought. I studied in Sudan until I reached secondary school. I did not complete the final year as I wanted to return to the Kingdom when I was 17.
Q: How did you spend your time there?
A: My father used to assign me to carry out a number of works related to his projects in Sudan, especially in agricultural and contacting areas.
Q: What about your work in Sudan?
A: I started work when I was 14. My work was mainly related to management and supervision. My role was like any other employee who is close to the employer, who is my father. I gave him the full picture of project works.
Q: What is your position among your brothers?
A: I am the eldest and my age is 24.
Q: How many members are there in your family — I mean your mother and siblings?
A: There are many, thank God.
Q: Can you tell us about your return to the Kingdom?
A: After proposing to marry a relative — my father is a believer in early marriages — I told him of my desire to return to the Kingdom. Every time, he told me to wait and be patient. One day I entered his room to wake him up for the Asr prayer. At that time, he told me: Abdullah, you can go to Saudi Arabia if you wish. I was very happy and tears of joy welled my eyes. My father smiled quietly but he did not tell me anything. The next day, I spoke to my uncles in Jeddah who helped me return as quickly as possible.
Q: What happened after your return?
A: I was planning my wedding soon after my arrival. I was married to a relative three months after my return. I am now the father of two children — a boy and a girl — thank God.
Q: Have you thought of completing your education abroad?
A: Naturally. But after my marriage I started working and I attended special courses in English language and computer science. My visits to Europe were as a tourist.
Q: Is your interest still in business?
A: My limited experience is in contracting and agriculture and this encourages me to work in the same field, especially as I love to work in those fields.
Q: In every person’s life there certain are important events that change the course of his life. What was that event in your life?
A: The stability of my country is a major factor that has changed my life. I appreciate this stability and reiterate my allegiance to the Kingdom’s leadership. Another factor that has changed my life is marriage.
Q: Has there been any contact at all between you and your father?
A: Not since I returned to the Kingdom. Actually, I don’t know anything about my father except what the media tells us.
Q: How do you see your father as he is depicted in the media and what you know?
A: I can tell you that the media is not at all correct. My father is a calm and quiet person by nature. I would like to stress that the media has played a big role in tarnishing his image and giving the wrong impression about him. They have even linked the spread of anthrax to him without any proof or evidence.
Q: What are your future plans?
A: I want to continue in business, especially in contracting.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: I like marine sports, horse riding and swimming.
Q: How do you spend your spare time?
A: On the Jeddah Corniche — with my friends and relatives.
