NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.aol.com/article/son-of-bin-laden-seeks-asylum-in-spain/237097

MADRID, Spain (Nov. 4) - A son of Osama bin Laden who grabbed headlines by marrying a British woman last year has flown to Spain and requested asylum, the Spanish government said Tuesday.
Omar Osama bin Laden, 27, is a metals trader who had been living in Cairo, Egypt with his wife. He has not renounced his father, but has said he wants to be an "ambassador for peace" between the Muslim world and the West.
His wife said, however, that he was denied a British residency request this year after officials there said he had demonstrated continuing loyalty to his father.
Omar Osama bin Laden — one of the al-Qaida leader's 19 children — arrived in Madrid Monday on a flight from Cairo to Casablanca, Morocco, an Interior Ministry official said.
He had been traveling on a Saudi passport, and remained at the airport Tuesday while the ministry considered his request for Spanish asylum, the official said on condition of anonymity in line with ministry policy.
The official did not know on what grounds asylum was being sought. The ministry has 72 hours to make a decision, and the petitioner has a right of appeal.
Omar Osama bin Laden caused a tabloid storm last year after marrying Jane Felix-Browne, 52, who has since taken the name Zaina Alsabah. The couple later said they were planning a 3,000-mile horse race across North Africa next year to draw attention to the cause of peace, but the plan was downgraded to a desert horse race within Egypt in light of the difficulties of obtaining permission to cross borders in North Africa.
Alsabah said in May in Cairo that Omar Osama bin Laden had been denied a British residency request. She showed The Associated Press a statement from the couple's legal firm quoting a British consular officer as saying his residency in Britain would cause public concern and would not be "conducive to the public good."
The British official is cited in the letter as saying that "statements made during recent media interviews indicate evidence of continuing loyalty to your father, who is ultimately held responsible for the London bombing" on July 7, 2005, that killed 52 people on three subway lines and a bus.
Omar Osama bin Laden had declined to directly condemn his father or the Sept. 11 attacks in media interviews, instead condemning all violent acts and saying simply that he had a different approach to problems than his father.

For my county's sake I hope the asylum request is denied. I know the children shouldn't pay for the father's deeds, but if this man wants asylum, he should seek it in the Arab or Muslim countries. Spain should send him packing.

If your country is faced with this decision, what would you expexct it to do? Should Spain grant or deny asylum to Omar Osama bin Laden? Comment.

Hopefully they accept it and then shoot him as soon as he gets off the plane.

Hopefully they accept it and then shoot him as soon as he gets off the plane.

He already got off the plane. He's awaiting a decision in Barajas Int'l.

Let him in.

Wow, 27 and he married a 52 year old... But, oh, right, um... It makes no difference to me, let the Spanish do what they want with their immigration and assylum stuff. If it were me, I'd hold him (not indefinately) for questioning... See if I could leak anything out of him about his old man. After that, I'd deny him assylum and send him right back to Egypt.

If your country is faced with this decision, what would you expexct it to do? Should Spain grant or deny asylum to Omar Osama bin Laden? Comment.


Since we don't know the grounds he's seeking asylum...... can't really make that call can we?

Who cares what he says? Let him in.

Hey Spain we got a spot in Gitmo for him

Since we don't know the grounds he's seeking asylum...... can't really make that call can we?

His petition of asylum was denied by the British government. Apparently he's still loyal to his father and he was trained in one of the Al-Qaeda camps while growing up.

If he's still tied to his father, then I wouldn't let him in.

if he trained by his father he needs to head to Cuba. the American administered part.

If he's still tied to his father, then I wouldn't let him in.

He alleges he's a pacifist. But if it were in my hands, I wouldn't grant him asylum in my country. It can be a rouse to establish more Al-Qaeda cells in Spanish soil.

He alleges he's a pacifist. But if it were in my hands, I wouldn't grant him asylum in my country. It can be a rouse to establish more Al-Qaeda cells in Spanish soil.

And I am inclined to agree with you. I personally couldn't trust him.

His petition of asylum was denied by the British government.
Yes. Why is the point.

Apparently he's still loyal to his father and he was trained in one of the Al-Qaeda camps while growing up.

That would (or should) have no legal bearing on his application for asylum with the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. That loyalty reasoning crap is political, he may very well have a valid fear of death if forced to return to his homeland.... and given the comments of tweedledum and tweedledee in this thread, it would appear that fear might be well founded.

Edit: Actually the entire point is moot - his wife is a British national and therefore and EU citizen. He has the right to reside with his family (i.e his wife) in any EU member state. (Several cases have backed this up - see Metock) He doesn't need to apply for asylum IIRC.

You silly sods...

He's married to a 52 year old british woman (with a nice rack ;)), a marriage that most certainly isn't looked favourably upon by his peers.

I'm sure he doesn't have any ties, beyond expected cordiality (ie. he probably won't betray them), with the rest of his family.

Denying asylum just because of his name would be retarded.

Hey Spain we got a spot in Gitmo for him

bump.

Oh he's the one with Grace Jones?

http://www.ohm1.com/Grace-Jones-Main.jpg

You silly sods...

He's married to a 52 year old british woman (with a nice rack ;)), a marriage that most certainly isn't looked favourably upon by his peers.

I'm sure he doesn't have any ties, beyond expected cordiality (ie. he probably won't betray them), with the rest of his family.

Denying asylum just because of his name would be retarded.

I still don't like the idea of having that man be granted political asylum in Spanish soil. Send him packing. He has other Arab countries to choose from as home, and if he's married to a British national, he should go to England.

I still don't like the idea of having that man be granted political asylum in Spanish soil. Send him packing. He has other Arab countries to choose from as home, and if he's married to a British national, he should go to England.

To be honest, I wouldn't want him here either - he like you said, should go to one of the many countries that would welcome him.

To be honest, I wouldn't want him here either - he like you said, should go to one of the many countries that would welcome him.

I fear none of them would welcome him. That, regardless, isn't Spain's problem.

He alleges he's a pacifist. But if it were in my hands, I wouldn't grant him asylum in my country. It can be a rouse to establish more Al-Qaeda cells in Spanish soil.

You think such a public figure would start up secret cells? I think there are better and more efficient ways to go about that. Now, despite his father being the mastermind of some pretty awful things, I don't think this guy is bad, and should be accepted by the Spanish government.

I still don't like the idea of having that man be granted political asylum in Spanish soil. Send him packing. He has other Arab countries to choose from as home, and if he's married to a British national, he should go to England.
Don't you see that he's not welcome in the arabic world - He's progressive relative to women's rights and probably would be executed on the spot if he'd set foot in eg. Saudi Arabia.

We should embrace the reformists, not send them packing. Granting bin Laden's son asylum would be a PR loss for the cause Osama and other fanatics are trying to advocate.

edit:
You would also condemn the british wife to a life under Islamic law.

I fear none of them would welcome him. That, regardless, isn't Spain's problem.

Nor is it the UK's. :)

Depends on his reason for asylum and it depends on whether or not he is willing to repudiate his father's message.

Unless both are legitimate, he should be denied asylum.

I still don't like the idea of having that man be granted political asylum in Spanish soil. Send him packing. He has other Arab countries to choose from as home, and if he's married to a British national, he should go to England.

EU citizen. Married to an EU citizen. Married to an EU citizen. He can go where he likes in the EU - his applied for residency in the UK, not asylum.

Alsabah said in May in Cairo that Omar Osama bin Laden had been denied a British residency request. She showed The Associated Press a statement from the couple's legal firm quoting a British consular officer as saying his residency in Britain would cause public concern and would not be "conducive to the public good."

In other words, the Home Office denied it because of his name.

EU citizen. Married to an EU citizen. Married to an EU citizen. He can go where he likes in the EU - his applied for residency in the UK, not asylum.

Then why choose Spain if he can go anywhere in the EU?

Then why choose Spain if he can go anywhere in the EU?

I dunno - the weather is nicer? Does it matter?

Then why choose Spain if he can go anywhere in the EU?

Same reason anyone else would choose Spain?

I still don't like the idea of having that man be granted political asylum in Spanish soil. Send him packing. He has other Arab countries to choose from as home, and if he's married to a British national, he should go to England.

What's wrong with you Nanatsu? He need help, let him in.

What's wrong with you Nanatsu? He need help, let him in.

Comming from someone convinced that America is going to invade australia... <_<

Same reason anyone else would choose Spain?

Their women are hot.

Their women are hot.

Beauty is subjective.

Comming from someone convinced that America is going to invade australia... <_<

If you can't beat them, join them.

Beauty is subjective.

No, beauty is mathematically. Really.

I dunno - the weather is nicer? Does it matter?

Spain is a trampoline to Africa, a continent that's mainly Muslim.

Spain is a trampoline to Africa, a continent that's mainly Muslim.

*facepalm*

I expected better from you.

*Sigh* the downside of this election seems to be that everyone is tearing into each other... even on other threads.

Spain is a trampoline to Africa, a continent that's mainly Muslim.

So? That's a good reason to reject an individual?

This should be expected from you, your people brutally slaughtered the Muslims in the Reconquista.

So? That's a good reason to reject an individual?

This should be expected from you, your people brutally slaughtered the Muslims in the Reconquista.

Just because her nation did bad things in the past, do not use that to judge her now TROLL!

Same reason anyone else would choose Spain?

Because he wants to organize the terrorist cells to blow up trains more effectively. His dad did proclaim Spain needs to become Muslim again for their to be peace.

Just because her nation did bad things in the past, do not use that to judge her now TROLL!

She's using the Umayyad conquest as an excuse to send a man to his death.

She using the Umayyad conquest as an excuse to send a man to his death.

No, she is not! She is thinking of what is best for her country!

You make me sick.

*facepalm*

I expected better from you.

Come on, it is true. I'm well aware this man is a "pacifist". He doesn't want to perpetuate his father's work. I just don't like the idea of him asking for political asylum in my country. His father's Al-Qaeda has hurt Spain greatly. And he hasn't renounced his father. Can you count on him not having a hidden agenda? That he, being married to an European, able to go anywhere on the EU is choosing Spain for asylum. To me is fishy.

Alas, the decision is not in my hands. The minister has 72 hours to come up with a decision. If Omar Osama bin Laden meets with the protocol to grant asylum, it'll be granted. If not, he'll be denied. That's how it is.

Because he wants to organize the terrorist cells to blow up trains more effectively. His dad did proclaim Spain needs to become Muslim again for their to be peace.

Yeah, sure, let's just assume that. :rolleyes:

No, she is not! She is thinking of what is best for her country!

You make me sick.

Best for her country? Who cares! This man has a right to asylum.

Spain is a trampoline to Africa, a continent that's mainly Muslim.

Religion in Africa according Encyclopædia Britannica:

45% are Muslim.
40% are Christians.

But everything have to be recounted after another war or hunger disaster

She using the Umayyad conquest as an excuse to send a man to his death.

I'm not using anything. I don't have a problem whatsoever with the faith of other people. And you should talk, fearing Obama just because he's black and president of the US. Don't make me laugh.

Best for her country? Who cares! This man has a right to asylum.

Oh that is it. You're going on my ignore list, troll. What is best for your country should always go above one man.

I'm not entirely sure what to make of Ferrous Oxide today, given that he's normally an OH NO TEH MUSLIMS/IMMIGRANTS type and I believe he's said in the past that Stormfront is just great. I can only surmise that he's taking the piss in some sort of reverse-trolling.

For the record, I agree with Ferrous here, must be a sign of the apocalypse. As long as he doesn't get up to anything terroriffic - and as Zilam said, a bit too public for that - then there isn't really any reason to deny him asylum other than paranoia.

I got an Idea. Send him to the US.
We take him to New York and once the Freedom tower is built we force him to live in the top story. Give him what ever he wants games, women, alcohol. But he must never leave the top story of the freedom tower.

Best for her country? Who cares! This man has a right to asylum.

No, he has a right to ask for asylum. But he has no right to be granted asylum. That falls in the country being asked. My country doesn't has the obligation to grant him political asylum.

I'm not entirely sure what to make of Ferrous Oxide today, given that he's normally an OH NO TEH MUSLIMS/IMMIGRANTS type and I believe he's said in the past that Stormfront is just great. I can only surmise that he's taking the piss in some sort of reverse-trolling.

I never said that Stormfront is great.

No, he has a right to ask for asylum. But he has no right to be granted asylum. That falls in the country being asked. My country doesn't has the obligation to grant him political asylum.

You signed the UN conventions, so you kinda do.

Beauty is subjective.
Not when it comes to Spanish women.

You signed the UN conventions, so you kinda do.

We can grant it only if Omar Osama bin Laden meets the requirements. If he doesn't, he'll be sent away.

You signed the UN conventions, so you kinda do.

Only if his life is threatened in Egypt.

Only if his life is threatened in Egypt.

And it is not.

We can grant it only if Omar Osama bin Laden meets the requirements. If he doesn't, he'll be sent away.

Yes, but if he meets the requirements, you can't just send him away because of his name (or shouldn't).

It feels odd, but I agree with Ferrous.



Oh that is it. You're going on my ignore list, troll. What is best for your country should always go above one man.
That's a very debatable point. Not everyone is a utilitarian.

Only if his life is threatened in Egypt.

His surname is bin Laden. His life is threatened everywhere!

His surname is bin Laden. His life is threatened everywhere!

Eh no. http://www.sbg.com.sa/

His surname is bin Laden. His life is threatened everywhere!

Bin Laden's family does very well in Muslim countries.

Yes, but if he meets the requirements, you can't just send him away because of his name (or shouldn't).

If he meets the requirements, regardless of his last name, he will be granted the asylum. That's how it is.

His surname is bin Laden. His life is threatened everywhere!

That is not true.

If he meets the requirements, regardless of his last name, he will be granted the asylum. That's how it is.

There's often loopholes. Observe how we Brits dodged the residency thing.

If he meets the requirements, regardless of his last name, he will be granted the asylum. That's how it is.

How much does a multimillionaire Saudi fear for his life I wonder?

There's often loopholes. Observe how we Brits dodged the residency thing.

Residency is not asylum. two different things. if he wants residency in Spain he is filling out the wrong paperwork

There's often loopholes. Observe how we Brits dodged the residency thing.

Well, as far as I know, my government hasn't said anything about that. Zapatero's government may well find a loophole. But, our Immigration minister already stated that if bin Laden meets the requirements, he will be granted asylum.

Residency is not asylum. two different things. if he wants residency in Spain he is filling out the wrong paperwork

I know. The point was residency and asylum laws often have public interest or suchlike clauses slipped into them to allow governments to turn down people who meet the requirements but they don't want coming in.

Bin Laden's family does very well in Muslim countries.

I'm sure that even there, there's some who'd want to knock him off.

If your father is a criminal then it doesn't mean you're one.

Following a training camp for terrorists abroad isn't a crime either. You can always argument that you are writing a book "my life at Al Qaeda".

How terrorist is such training camp either? I mean, those days, you can do paintball shooting just everywhere.

Come on, it is true. I'm well aware this man is a "pacifist". He doesn't want to perpetuate his father's work. I just don't like the idea of him asking for political asylum in my country. His father's Al-Qaeda has hurt Spain greatly. And he hasn't renounced his father. Can you count on him not having a hidden agenda? That he, being married to an European, able to go anywhere on the EU is choosing Spain for asylum. To me is fishy.

Alas, the decision is not in my hands. The minister has 72 hours to come up with a decision. If Omar Osama bin Laden meets with the protocol to grant asylum, it'll be granted. If not, he'll be denied. That's how it is.
Like I said, I expected better than a knee jerk reaction from you based purely on his name and family. He is not his father.

As for 'hidden agenda' I don't know you don't have one. He can move to Spain if he feels like it, like he can move to Italy or Ireland or Greece.

I didn't realise you were so prejudiced.

Following a training camp for terrorists abroad isn't a crime either. You can always argument that you are writing a book "my life at Al Qaeda".

How terrorist is such training camp either? I mean, those days, you can do paintball shooting just everywhere.

Good point. What can a "terrorist" training camp teach you that light gun games and the Internet can't?

I didn't realise you were so prejudiced.

Prejudiced? No. I can understand her postition completely, given the current circumstances of the world.

Like I said, I expected better than a knee jerk reaction from you based purely on his name and family. He is not his father.

Which is something I have stated already. I am well aware Omar Osama bin Laden is not his father.

As for 'hidden agenda' I don't know you don't have one. He can move to Spain if he feels like it, like he can move to Italy or Ireland or Greece.

Then, once again, why is he asking for political asylum in Spain? Spain is part of the EU. He can move freely through it having married that British lady.

I didn't realise you were so prejudiced.

I am not prejudiced as much as concerned. This man can move about the entire EU. He has no problem setteling anywhere on it. Why is he asking for political asylum? His life hasn't been threatened.

I am not prejudiced as much as concerned. This man can move about the entire EU. He has no problem setteling anywhere on it. Why is he asking for political asylum? His life hasn't been threatened.

So basically, you don't mind that he's coming to Europe, you just don't want him where you are.

That's selfish.

I think i'm gonna duck out of this thread. I feel like i'm about to put my foot in my mouth.

So basically, you don't mind that he's coming to Europe, you just don't want him where you are.

That's selfish.

Once again, you should be one to talk.

And yes, my main concern here is my country. But once again, wether bin Laden is granted asylum or not, falls in the hands of ther Spanish Immigration department. No matter what I say or if I like it or not.

I think i'm gonna duck out of this thread. I feel like i'm about to put my foot in my mouth.

Grow a spine.

And yes, my main concern here is my country.

So basically, it comes down to how this affects you? Fuck France and the UK, they can have this guy, and if he ends up being a troublemaker it'll be their problem?

:rolleyes:

Grow a spine.

Ouch. :(

Then, once again, why is he asking for political asylum in Spain? Spain is part of the EU. He can move freely through it having married that British lady.
We don't know why because we haven't been told yet - that coupled with the fact of his name and family relationship, you came to a decision. You pre judged him based on flimsy and circumstantial evidence.



I am not prejudiced as much as concerned. This man can move about the entire EU. He has no problem setteling anywhere on it. Why is he asking for political asylum? His life hasn't been threatened.
How do you know? Do you have insider access to the asylum application?

So basically, it comes down to how this affects you? Fuck France and the UK, they can have this guy, and if he ends up being a troublemaker it'll be their problem?

:rolleyes:

To each his or her own.

We don't know why because we haven't been told yet - that coupled with the fact of his name and family relationship, you came to a decision. You pre judged him based on flimsy and circumstantial evidence.




How do you know? Do you have insider access to the asylum application?

As I already stated, wether bin Laden is granted political asylum in Spain or not, falls in the hands of the Immigration Department. I may not like it all, but I have no say in the matter.