JEDDAH, 18 October 2007 — Omar Bin Laden, the 27-year-old son of Osama Bin Laden, is said to be back with his 51-year-old British wife, Jane Felix-Browne, who now uses the Muslim name Zaina Muhammad. They are currently living together in Europe, most likely in the south of France, said a report in Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News.
In a phone interview with the newspaper’s Muhammad Shafey on Tuesday, Omar said he had just completed shooting a documentary with Zaina for the BBC which is to be aired in December this year. In the documentary, the fourth son of Bin Laden recounts the story of his involvement with the British grandmother after they met horseback riding at Egypt’s Pyramids last September.
Omar, a Jeddah-based scrap metal dealer who last met his father in Afghanistan in 2000, said he had a message to relay to the world about his religion. “Islam is not a personal matter; neither is it a national goal; it is universal, comprehensive and eternal. All the prophets and messengers have strived toward peace and built its foundation, but it could not have been complete without Prophet Muhammad’s message.”
Zaina did confirm to Asharq Al-Awsat that Omar had filed for divorce while she was performing Umrah recently. “But it was invalid from a legitimate standpoint because he was forced to do so by his family.”
Zaina acknowledged that she was presently living under special circumstances with the man she had chosen. “Omar did not divorce me because I am faithful and he understands me. We are living a life of joy, virtue and dignity,” Asharq Al-Awsat quoted her as saying.
However, she refused to disclose the location of the European city in which they are living. “I do not want to be hounded by the media and photographers who will transform our tranquil life into a living hell,” she said. The newspaper ran a recent picture of the two sitting at a large table in an unidentified location.
Zaina revealed that she was applying the final touches to the import-export company that she was starting with her husband in an unnamed European capital. She stated that they were in the process of looking for a commercial partner from the Gulf region.
Omar described his marriage as “good and strong” despite the considerable age gap between the two.
Zaina described her husband as her closest friend and said they had many things in common. “Omar is incredibly kind and wonderful and represents all the noble characteristics of a true Arab,” she said. “His heart is pure and he is a forthright, calm and noble man in every sense of the word.”
Omar was already married with a two-year-old child when he met Zaina. In an earlier interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Zaina said she had asked for a divorce after spending two weeks with her son at Bin Laden’s guest house in Jeddah. She cited pressures from her husband’s family as the reason. She performed Umrah with Omar and said that it had made their relationship much stronger.
“I love Omar enough to know that I will never leave him. I cannot live without him; his love runs in my veins,” Zaina added.
