Dubai: Amal Ahmad Al Sada is expected to return to Yemen "in the coming days" after 11 years of leaving her home country.
Amal, the widow of Osama Bin Laden, the top al Qaida leader who was killed earlier May by US Special Forces, is "waiting for traveling papers and arrangements to be totally completed," her brother said.
"We (the family) are in continuous contact with the Pakistani embassy in Sana'a and the Yemeni Embassy in Pakistan. And the promises we were given so far is that they (Amal and her children) will be coming back soon," Zakaria Al Sada told Gulf News in a telephone interview from Yemen. "I don't know an exact time, but it is within the coming days, God willing," he said quoting Yemeni and Pakistani diplomats.
After the killing of Bin Laden, the Pakistani authorities had to take "precautionary measures" and conducted the necessary investigations with Amal and the other two Saudi widows of Bin Laden.
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"Now, I believe it is an issue of finalising their traveling arrangements," Zakaria said.
Until her return, Amal lives in a "safe place along with the other two Saudi widows" in the custody of the Pakistani security, the 24-year-old brother said.
The Pakistani security authorities, according to press reports, have allowed in the past few weeks the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to interrogate Amal and the other two Saudi widows: Khairiah Sabar and Siham Sabar.
Amal Al Sada, who is also known as Amal Ahmed Abdul Fattah, was shot in the leg during the attack on Bin Laden's compound in the Pakistani town of Abbott Abad by Navy Seals on May 2.
Zakaria, nor any other member in the family, has not spoken to Amal since September 11, 2001.
"Our Ambassador (in Pakistan) has already visited her because she is a Yemeni citizen," Zakaria said.
"From what we were told, she has recovered from her injuries (in the leg). But we are worried about her psychological status and the conditions of her children".
Zakaria said the family knew of one child of Amal from Bin Laden. The 11-year-old Safia was reported to be an eye-witness tothe killing of her father.
However, the Yemeni ambassador told the family recently after visiting their daughter that she has five children with her, three girls and two boys.
Safia is the oldest, Ebrahim is the youngest child of Amal, Zakaria said.
Amal got married to Bin Laden in 2000 through a marriage power of attorney authorized to one of Amal's relatives. She was nearly 19 years old at the time, less than half of Bin Laden's age. In Islam, a man and a woman can get married through a power of attorney without being together in signing the marriage of contract.
That time, Osama was not the same person talked about in the media after the 9/11 attacks, Zakaria said.
"He was a normal person, who was well-educated religiously."
During the first year of her marriage, the contact between the family and the daughter was possible. But after 9/11 attacks, all contacts were cut with Amal. Her parents, four brothers and three sisters knew nothingof her.
Shortly after her marriage, her father visited her, Zakaria said.
The mother and her eldest son were planning to travel to Afghanistan to visit Amal, "and to check on her and see if she is happy or not and whether she wants to return to Yemen or not," but then 9/11 happened and their daughter's life changed forever.
Bin Laden became the most wanted man on earth for terrorism charges and the killing of thousands of people.
"Several human rights Yemeni organisations expressed their support to us (family)," said Zakaria.
"After all, these are women and children who have nothing to do with anything," he added in reference to Bin Laden actions. (Gulf News)
Amal, the widow of Osama Bin Laden, the top al Qaida leader who was killed earlier May by US Special Forces, is "waiting for traveling papers and arrangements to be totally completed," her brother said.
"We (the family) are in continuous contact with the Pakistani embassy in Sana'a and the Yemeni Embassy in Pakistan. And the promises we were given so far is that they (Amal and her children) will be coming back soon," Zakaria Al Sada told Gulf News in a telephone interview from Yemen. "I don't know an exact time, but it is within the coming days, God willing," he said quoting Yemeni and Pakistani diplomats.
After the killing of Bin Laden, the Pakistani authorities had to take "precautionary measures" and conducted the necessary investigations with Amal and the other two Saudi widows of Bin Laden.
Article continues below
"Now, I believe it is an issue of finalising their traveling arrangements," Zakaria said.
Until her return, Amal lives in a "safe place along with the other two Saudi widows" in the custody of the Pakistani security, the 24-year-old brother said.
The Pakistani security authorities, according to press reports, have allowed in the past few weeks the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to interrogate Amal and the other two Saudi widows: Khairiah Sabar and Siham Sabar.
Amal Al Sada, who is also known as Amal Ahmed Abdul Fattah, was shot in the leg during the attack on Bin Laden's compound in the Pakistani town of Abbott Abad by Navy Seals on May 2.
Zakaria, nor any other member in the family, has not spoken to Amal since September 11, 2001.
"Our Ambassador (in Pakistan) has already visited her because she is a Yemeni citizen," Zakaria said.
"From what we were told, she has recovered from her injuries (in the leg). But we are worried about her psychological status and the conditions of her children".
Zakaria said the family knew of one child of Amal from Bin Laden. The 11-year-old Safia was reported to be an eye-witness tothe killing of her father.
However, the Yemeni ambassador told the family recently after visiting their daughter that she has five children with her, three girls and two boys.
Safia is the oldest, Ebrahim is the youngest child of Amal, Zakaria said.
Amal got married to Bin Laden in 2000 through a marriage power of attorney authorized to one of Amal's relatives. She was nearly 19 years old at the time, less than half of Bin Laden's age. In Islam, a man and a woman can get married through a power of attorney without being together in signing the marriage of contract.
That time, Osama was not the same person talked about in the media after the 9/11 attacks, Zakaria said.
"He was a normal person, who was well-educated religiously."
During the first year of her marriage, the contact between the family and the daughter was possible. But after 9/11 attacks, all contacts were cut with Amal. Her parents, four brothers and three sisters knew nothingof her.
Shortly after her marriage, her father visited her, Zakaria said.
The mother and her eldest son were planning to travel to Afghanistan to visit Amal, "and to check on her and see if she is happy or not and whether she wants to return to Yemen or not," but then 9/11 happened and their daughter's life changed forever.
Bin Laden became the most wanted man on earth for terrorism charges and the killing of thousands of people.
"Several human rights Yemeni organisations expressed their support to us (family)," said Zakaria.
"After all, these are women and children who have nothing to do with anything," he added in reference to Bin Laden actions. (Gulf News)
