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The British woman who has become the daughter-in-law of Osama bin Laden said yesterday that she hoped to use the enormous international interest in their relationship to campaign for peace in the Middle East.
Jane Felix-Browne said that she had been overwhelmed by the response after The Times revealed yesterday that she had married a son of the al-Qaeda leader.
Mrs Felix-Browne, 51, married Omar Ossama bin Laden, 27, in April after a holiday romance and is now preparing to apply for a visa so that he can visit Britain.
The grandmother and parish councillor returned to Moulton in Cheshire this month to try to formalise her marriage through the Saudi Arabian embassy in London.
“I am trying to get everything organised in Saudi to get the marriage legalised over there,” she said. “Everybody over there knows we are married but there is a political situation. For the son of Osama bin Laden to marry a Westerner is very, very unusual.”
Mrs Felix-Browne is travelling to the Middle East today but will be unable to meet her husband as she is still awaiting a visa for Saudi Arabia and his passport is being held by the authorities. She insists that her husband does not support terrorism and has not seen his father since 2000, when they both lived in Afghanistan during the period when it was controlled by the Taleban.
“The only reason I would like to meet his father is to ask, ‘Did you do it [the September 11 attacks] and if you did, why?’ ” she said. “I want to understand why it happened because it was a tragic event which led to tens of thousands of other people dying.”
She hopes to use her position as the daughter-in-law of the world’s most wanted terrorist to help to promote peace in the Middle East.
“I knew there will be interest because the son of the most wanted man in the world is married to a British woman,” she said. “If I can do anything because of who I am married to and try to end some of the fighting in the world then I will do it.
“Omar trusts me and has supported me is speaking publicly about our marriage and about our plans to campaign for peace. I know a lot about Middle East politics and believe there should be peace in the whole of the world, the same as Omar.”
Her husband, a scrap metal dealer who lives in Jeddah, said that he had been surprised by the level of interest in his marriage.
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DUH?!! - Wake up and smell the coffee Jane. Give the guy some credit, it's an easy way to gain entry to Britain via a middle aged woman. I sincerely hope in this case the Home office makes an exception and that her new polygamous husband is not allowed British Citizenship or Visa for entry into UK. If he is granted this, will this then allow his 'old' wife and young son automatic entry into Britain? I feel sorry for her UK family. What an embarrassment.
Sandy, Ballina, Ireland
take good care.maybe your father-in-law leaves you alone cz you are married to his son, but never forget you are a woman and BRITISH.you gotta have lots of courage.I believe in dialogue so good luck!!!! I hope we will have peace soon in these tortured areas(and everywhere)
k, S,
Do you, media, commentators, observers and/or readers realise how much some people yearn for publicity? Indeed, she's got it. It has been said, "no publicicity is bad publicity" even if it is bad publicity...
Murad, Ramalla, PTs
"She hopes to use her position as the daughter-in-law of the worldâs most wanted terrorist to help to promote peace in the Middle East"
Sure...TRY asking your father in law (No 6) to stop his campaigne of World Terror...
jkm, Durham,
Hi Jane
I am so happy for you. Congrats on your wedding. I am with you and support you and I am very sure your father in law will give you the answer you need.
Watever it might be i support you and hope that he agrees to have peace,
Take care n good luck
Neelam, Singapore, Singapore
Sad! but PM material by today's standards.
R.F.Ruth, Brentwood, U.K.
Perhaps the most shocking piece of this story is the last slide of the attached photos where it states Omar is still living with his first wife and talks to his new wife via the phone and the internet
Kostas, Norwich,
Now you know why the muslim radicals fight women's rights and rather get killed than having their wifes having their own say.
By the way: This kind of "westerners" do not need to be beheaded. Beheading is too much a doo about nothing.
Dirk R Bode, Hamburg, Germany,
Evil motives and evil actions should be stopped as still more evil motives and evil reactions are sure to burst out. The planet's population has been divided into many many divisions and eternal enmity is nourished by all. Every family should be given the highest dignity. Every child is noble. There should not be tears in their eyes.. If Jane Felix can become an ambassador for peace and really does achieve something , every human being will be talking about her and she will become a living heroine. Hope by her marriage she will do a noble service.
bharath, tiruchirappalli, south india
Is there anybody left in the world who is interested in the rubbish these two have to say ? Please Jane go away an live with him in Jeddah and spare us your nonsense. You've had your 15 minutes of fame.
Ripsnorter (ex-pat), Malaga, Spain
I think this is the craziest thing ive ever heard, they say love has no boundries but this well and truly needs a line drawing right in front of it. It disturbs me to imagin the son of one of the worlds most notorius terroist killers will be legally able to walk free in britain- its insanity whatever his views on terroism, with the level of fear in our country at the moment, this silly woman chooses Omar bin Laden as her 5th husband- i hope she does not live to regret it.
Claire, birmingham,
This is almost as funny as Big Brother. In fact this woman SHOULD be on Big Brother
Marco Borg, London, UK
How admirable for a Western woman to endorse polygamy. How shameful to propose to & marry a man who is already married. Furthermore Mrs.Felix-Browne is hardly the first British woman to marry into the binLadin family. Do your family history.Her audacity is amazing in that she feels her controversial marriage can be a spingboard for Middle East peace.
Susan Schuster, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
First she might start a campaign against stoning women to death.
jane, oxfordshire,
Is it April fools day today?????
Norma Carter, Richmond, Surrey
Excellent news! Best of luck to the couple in their peace efforts so needed in the world today!
KS Subramanian, New Delhi , India
Propaganda is only possible when the propagandist speakis into a vacuum: he talks "at" you rather than "to" you. Conversely, when human relationships have to be managed in the context of real people, this vacuum disappears.
It will be interesting to see what effect this new, human social contact has on both sides of the "war on terror" - particularly since "terror" is an abstract noun. When you enter a situation where people talk "to" each other rather than "at" each other, reality can sometimes take precedence over imagery - and that knocks the bottom out of "spin".
Edmund Burke, Kingston upon Thames, England
51 and 27, Hmm, and the picture of her in pig-tails seems like she is trying to capture her lost youth. Before she starts trying to bring peace to the mid-east and her "husband" to the west, she should consider going to live in the middle east where she wouldn't have to worry about her lost youth, she'd be under the veil all the time. What a silly woman.
Sal, Vancouver Island, Canada
Well done Mrs Felx-Browne and congratulations, love conquers all.....it's better than white pedophiles abusing children which seems to be the norm nowadays.
Black Prince, London, UK
If I ever met Osama bin Laden, I'd want a progress report. Perhaps I'd have to first ask for clarification of his aims and objectives and then I'd like to know how he thinks he's doing. In other words, how close to world domination does he think he is?
Matthew, Ringwood, UK
Help bring Middle East peace? This woman needs to get over herself. She's had her 15 minutes in the spotlight and it's time now for her to go away.
Linda Bennett, Tunbridge Wells,
She looks amazing for 51. I wish her well in her marriage.
Nic Corry, Hong Kong, China SAR
bin Laden admitted on tape that he ordered the 9/11 attacks, and this tape was shown all over the world, so this woman doesn't seem very bright. Not bright at all.
Deidre, Cambridge, UK
Grow up Mrs. Felixe-Browne! You are 51 and he is 27, what do you think he married you for?
There are enough 'dodgy people' living in Britain, instead of getting your toy boy into Britain why don't you go and live with him in Jeddah where you can really get a feel for your 'campaign for peace in the Middle East'. Perhaps you wouldn't be quite as useful to him then.
J. Dodds, Dubai, UAE
.... he's surprisingly cute. Not at all how you'd imagine the son of Osama. He's hot!
Joseph Hill, Edinburgh, Scotland
This is surely pushing the "hearts and mind" campaign to an extreme. Whatever will the Pentagon think of next!
Robbie Rohan, Great Chart, Kent, UK
I've heard of decentralisation, but sending a Parish Councillor to make peace in the Middle East .....
Mark, Birmingham, UK
Good intentions, but so naive. I wish her well, but unfortunately believe she is being used and it will end in tragedy. Having spent over 40 years in the Gulf area, believe me I know how their minds work!!
Tony, Dubai,
If she has any scruples, she'll find out the location of her infamous father-in-law, and turn him in to the British and American authorities.
Haven, USA,
I wish them both good luck - perhaps a difference can be made.
Jennifer
Jennifer, Dublin, Ireland
Some people are prepared to do anything for publicity, so why bother to make it into a story just to please her ego. It's not a relationship that will last anyway. I'm sure of course that he will most likely get a British passport from it though with such a well known relation. Thomas. Sweden.
Thomas N Kynman, Umeå, Sweden
Some people are prepared to do anything for publicity, so why bother to make it into a story just to please her ego. It's not a relationship that will last anyway. I'm sure of course that he will most likely get a British passport from it though with such a well known relation.
Thomas N Kynman, Umeå, Sweden
How much money has this little old lady got, she wont have it for long
John Jordan, Ramsey Isle of Man, U.K.
I don't know why the media keep saying she's 'Mrs. bin Laden'. The man is already married, and Britain does not recognize bigamy, therefore, her marriage cannot be legal in Britain. And if she thinks that this man will be given a visa, she's even more deluded than she comes across. Everything that she's said about Omar breaking with his father before 9/11 comes directly from his mouth. And if he 'disagreed' on how to kill thousands of people, why didn't he tell someone this attack was coming?
If she insists that she's married to this man, then she should leave Britain and go live with him in Egypt....and then we'll see what tune she sings.
Kathleen, Austin, Texas
You couldn't make it up, could you?
I'm sure she has a heart of gold, but, come on, you know....,
if you look up naive, and gullible in the dictionary you're going to see her name.
Bless her heart!
Tony Edwards, Pattaya, Thailand
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
Huascar, La Paz, Bolivia
she is 51 and he is 27???? Is there something obvious going on here?
Yoh Mohd, Jeddah, SA
a nice story! But Who's Cheating Whom?? Will she reach her ultimate goal of reaching bin Laden? or the boy wanted to blow himself up before the time? 'Dirty tricks' hit race!
thanks
Karzan, Munich, Germany
What a deluded idiot! It is paonfully obvious that he only wants a ticket to Britain (possibly to further the jihad) and she just wants a younger husband. No wonder they get on.
Ben, York,
What a Cougar.
Michael, DC/Baltimore, US
While on the way to test British authorities (naive) tolerance to the full she is on a good way to get more attention pleading for peace!! Certainly her father in law can give her some teaching how to achieve piece!
Next step? Get a blessing from the Pope (or the Queen may be good enough)!
Andres, London, UK
He is already married and the father of a 2 year old child. Jane, can you spell B-I-G-A-M-Y?
Julie Chapman, Austin, TX
It is of course possible that he fancies her, she looks quite good looking, certainly younger in appearance than her 51 years would suggest.
chris, Newton-le-willows,
Evil motives and evil actions should be stopped as still more evil motives and evil reactions are sure to burst out. The planet's population has been divided into many many divisions and eternal enmity is nourished by all. Every family should be given the highest dignity. Every child is noble. There should not be tears in their eyes.. If Jane Felix can become an ambassador for peace and really does achieve something , every human being will be talking about her and she will become a living heroine. Hope by her marriage she will do a noble service.
bharath, tiruchirappalli, south india
she must be naiive to think that she will bring peace. Watch out Britain, there could be another plot unfolding: suicide bombers!!!!!!! DON'T ALLOW HIM TO STAY HERE.
EVE, London, U.K
Dear Jane,
If you ever meet his father, you will be covered from head to toe, and probably not allowed to speak.
Good luck with your plans for world peace. I'm sure he is really interested in your opinion.
Patrick Henry, Bristol, UK
Surely this is pushing the "hearts and mind" campaign to the extreme. Whatever will the Pentagon think of next?
Robbie Rohan, Great Chart, Kent, UK
There is no Fool Like an Old Fool seems appropriate here. He is thirty years younger, and has another wife and son. She has Multiple Sclrosis - does she really think he will be there when she gets worse?
She seems to be deluding herself this marriage will work, and seems to have some sort of "God Complex" that the marriage will help bring world piece.
Very sad to think women can be so self-delusional.
Lia Mitchel, South Africa,
Did the sclerosis get into her brain? She thinks she can be a peace maker? It will be a failure just like her 5 previous marriages. She might be encouraging her husband to marry an American soon to make peace with the US while sheâs at it. She is so stupid that her father-in-law must be laughing in his beard
BX, Leeds,
Who is she kidding? Herself first and foremost. He only wants to get a a British passport.
Marina, PARIS, FRANCE
At first I thought she was just another deluded middle aged Western woman getting swept away by a holiday romance with a far younger handsome Arab guy who, in this case, happened to have an infamous father and I did feel a bit sorry for her(I've seen plenty of similar brief romances - though without the notorious family connection, of course - here and in Egypt); now I'm beginning to think Oh dear, just another attention seeker. Seems like she's far more intent on using her husband's surname to get people taking notice than he is.
Having lived in the Middle East a few years and being reasonably knowledgeable about the torturously complex and machiavellian political scene in the region, I'm awed at her delusion, sorry, determination, to bring peace to the M.E and am sure that the political leaders, emirs and sheikhs will be queueing up to hear her solutions. Though I don't think "wanting world peace" is really enough (however laudable an aim) unless you're a Miss World contestant.
Linda , Sharjah, UAE
Guess who is coming to dinner tonight!
Hussein, Dra es salaam, Tanzania
At 51 years old you would think she would have figured out a few things in life. Being an elderly wife to a Saudi Muslim playboy I'm sure will bring an education that she doesn't want. So soon old. So late smart.
Boodrow Malone, Fairbanks, Alaska
Unbelievable! A woman who seems to marry someone different everytime the sun sets is trying to be an ambassador for world peace... Next I'll be reading that Batman is real!
JB, Surrey, England
Good for you, Jane. Anyone should be able to marry whomever they desire. And congratulations to you, Omar. You seem to be a very nice person according to your new wife.
However, Jane, your father-in-law needs to be smacked and given a severe time-out. He is not a very nice person to those outside his own realm. If you meet him, drop a dime on him and collect the $25M.
James P, Sacramento, California
Did the sclerosis get into her brain? She thinks she can be a peace maker? It will be a failure just like her 5 previous marriages. She might be encouraging her husband to marry an American soon to make peace with the US while sheâs at it. She is so stupid that her father-in-law must be laughing in his beard.
BX, Leeds,
Hi everybody. I'm from Brazil and for me it's unbelievable....
this woman is crazy!
Dirce, Victory, Brazil
"I know a lot about Middle East politics and believe there should be peace in the whole of the world, the same as Omar.â If she knew "a lot" about Middle East politics she would not have to ask her question. Has she lived in a cave to have not seen any footage of her father-inlaw explaining why he is the most wanted man in the world? "her husband does not support terrorism" Sure, but does he support his dear dad? If so, he is the epitome of a terrorist. Jihadist do not acknowledge that they are commiting terrorism. For her husband to be "surprised" by the level of interest in their marriage is utter ridiculous! He simply thinks we are all so beneath him that he thinks we could be fooled by that lie. But then again, she could only be saying what she says to save her own skin. What is her definition of "peace" in the whole world? Peace to her more than likely means when we ALL convert to Islam. She is first and foremost a Muslim before she is British.
Dee MarsS, Cheyenne, Wyoming / USA