Zakaria al Sadah, the brother of Bin Laden's Yemeni fifth wife Amal, told Britain's Sunday Times newspaper that the Saudi-born extremist believed his children "should not follow him down the road to jihad."
"He told his own children and grandchildren, 'Go to Europe and America and get a good education,'" al Sadah told the Sunday Times.
Al Sadah said Bin Laden told them: "You have to study, live in peace and don't do what I am doing or what I have done."
Bin Laden was killed in a commando raid in May 2011 by US Navy SEALS at a house in the garrison town of Abbottabad, northwest Pakistan, where he had been living for several years.
Al Sadah said that in November he had seen his sister for the first time since she was shot in the knee during the raid, and had since been allowed to have a number of meetings with her in the presence of guards.
He said the three wives and nine children who were in the compound – some are Bin Laden's children and others are his grandchildren – have been held for months in a three-room flat in Islamabad.
They are guarded by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, he said.
The Sunday Times published what it said was the first photograph to show some of the young children from the compound: two sons and a daughter, and two grandsons and a granddaughter.
The children were still traumatised after seeing the raid in which Bin Laden died, al Sadah said.
"These children have seen their father killed and they need a caring environment, not a prison – whatever you think of their father and what he has done," he said.
A commission investigating the raid said in October that it had lifted travel restrictions on Bin Laden's family and al Sadah flew to Islamabad in November to take Amal and her children home.
But he said Pakistani officials had refused to let him take them.
There was no immediate response to the claims from Pakistani officials.
COMMENTS (29)
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@Shakil
Common sense argument.Thank you.
OBL was not only responsible for killing thousands around the globe; he also succeeded in misleading many into following the wrong path in life. He encouraged his followers to choose violence over peace, but did not want his own family to stand in the way of harm. Those who chose to follow his lead should now be aware of his hidden agenda, and the evil objectives of his terrorist organization. Are we not seeing hypocrisy at full display? The sad truth is that his terrorist organization continues to manipulate people into believing that they are fighting for a cause. They continue to recruit innocent minds, and then force them to carry out their terrorist activities.
OBL spent the majority of his life on the run and in hiding. The lifestyle that he sold to others and those others are now selling in his name is not just filled with abhorrence and detestation, but it inevitably leads to death or imprisonment. OBL became the prisoner of his own teaching and deprived himself of the normal joy of life with freedom. His story sends a clear message and reminds us all that life is too precious, and should not be wasted in promoting hate and terrorism.
@Colonel: Do you believe that Jews were behind 9/11? Or was done by Bush? Why did Usama and other leaders claimed responsibility for 9/11? If this claim of responsibility was a fake, why haven't Al-Qaeda leaders said so? By the way, do you believe that Usama was a real person or is he fictitious character?
Sounds just like our own Congress, doesn't it?
Do as we tell you, don't do what we do.
strong text Fifteen Trillion and going up...
@raj- USA.... Thank you sir, :)
@Mirza: Very good point. I totally agree.
yes that seems like the typical extremist mentality. His own children should be educated and live in peace (whether in the west or not) , but young poor malleable pakistani boys (and in some circumstances girls) should go on and blow themselves and other poor pakistanis up. How can he possibly be doing Islam a service?????? You are going to have a tough time explaining all the blood on your hands., Mr Laden.............
The rich kids are supposed to have good peaceful lives in the safety of West. While the poor kids especially Pakistanis are trained to be the fuel for war against the West. No rich man, religious leader or top operative or his kids are trained to be suicide bombers. This dubious role is for poor madarsa student.
Typical hypocrisy. Btw, our own religious leaders, Qazi Hussain being a notable example, who were screaming against the States after 9/11 when we allied with them against Afghanistan also keep their precious offsprings in the safe havens of the States only while appealing to other youths to join jihad.
This is standard practice for mullahs, encourage war and let someone else's child die in it.
“These children have seen their father killed and they need a caring environment, not a prison – whatever you think of their father and what he has done,” .... must say i totally agree with that.
“He told his own children and grandchildren, ‘Go to Europe and America and get a good education,’” After creating such a big 'Fitna' that caused thousands of deaths, some people will still call this hypocrite a great Jehadi. People sense his double standard.
@Rahamthullah: "Finally, he understood that Jihad is wrong and a waste. Hafiz Saeed should learn this."
He does! His brother along with his family and kids was in Worcester Massachusettes USA last time I checked!
Finally, he understood that Jihad is wrong and a waste. Hafiz Saeed should learn this.
hypocrite!
Hmm.... Dont know but smells fishy! Brother in law of the fifth wife!! Oh come on west! Come up with something better in this psychological warfare!! Why dont the "children" speak for themselves. Didnt they "cooperate" while in custody??
who said JIHAD only means to KILL ppl... its mean Struggle... struggle can be made in any form, by making new and improved goods.. help poors.... Prove others by Educational tools or with Mind... not by Swords, that period has gone. C'mon ppl it is the Technological/ Educational period..... Compete others.. and be a LEADER... Stay Blessed all the readers and try to understand the words of Almighty Allah Thanks hope u got it...
Now, the real question one should ask is , was he real or phantom?
@Colonel
US says Ladin is dead, Taliban say Ladin is dead, Alqaeda says Ladin is dead and has appointed a new leader, army/ISI says Ladin is dead. 14 children and 3 wives are in army's custody. What other proof you need?
Can you prove Napoleon existed? Even if someone produces a video of Napoleon; you would say it is a doctored video. There is no solution to denial
All this fuss is for others and not for themselves. If you doubt check your Molvi in your area.
May be it finally dawned on him that western education is (at the least) as good as madrassa education.
Even after his death its still not clear whether he was behind 9/11 attacks or he really died in abotabad operation, Where are the Proofs???
I don't hesitate a second that Osama bin Laden had "urged his younger children to go live peacefully in the West and get a university education", Having had a life he had led, he wouldn't want his children to follow his footsteps. Let's hope that his advice would also resonate in the ears of those who aim at carrying on his legacy.
Hypocrisy comes in many shapes and sizes. And bearded men.
It should not surprise anyone!
One word that immediately comes to mind is............HYPOCRITE
Says it all doesn't it?
A man who led a major campaign against the west told his children to live in peace in the west and get an education. All the while he asked the children of many others to fight against the very same west.
But the damage is done, the Dafa-e-Pakistan is in full swing today.