Friday, April 13, 2012

Bin Laden's widows to be deported from Pakistan

120413121204-compound-in-abbottabad-widows-story-top Pakistan will deport the widows and children of terrorism mastermind Osama bin Laden to Saudi Arabia next week, their attorney said Friday.

Earlier this month, a Pakistani court sentenced the three widows -- two Saudis and a Yemeni -- and two of bin Laden's daughters to 45 days of house arrest for living illegally in the South Asian nation.

The court ordered that they be deported after their term, which began March 3 when they were formally arrested, was served, said lawyer Aamir Khalil.

The family members will take a special Saudi flight next Wednesday, Khalil said. He was not clear whether the Yemeni woman would remain in Saudi Arabia.

Pakistani authorities and lawmakers had no comment.

Yemen officially announced it would allow the Yemeni widow, Amal Ahmed Abdul Fateh, to return to her homeland. Her brother Zakaria Abdul Fateh told CNN the Yemeni Embassy in Islamabad was processing her paperwork and that she planned to go back to Sanaa next month.

CNN was not immediately able to reach Saudi authorities.

Saudi Arabia had previously been resistant to the return of the other two women -- Khairiah Sabar and Siham Sabar.

The wives and children have been in Pakistani custody since U.S. Navy SEALs raided bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad and killed the al Qaeda leader in May 2011.

The daughters are ages 17 and 21, Khalil said.

Since all five defendants confessed to impersonation, illegal entry into Pakistan and staying illegally in Pakistan, there was no need for a trial, said Khalil, who added that his clients would not appeal the "lenient" sentence.

Bin Laden spent years on the run in Pakistan after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, moving from one safe house to another and fathering four children -- at least one of whom was born in a government hospital, Fateh told Pakistani investigators.

A deposition taken from Fateh gives the clearest picture yet of bin Laden's life while international forces hunted him. He and his family moved from city to city with the help of Pakistanis who arranged "everything" for them, Fateh said, according to the deposition.

During their time in Pakistan, Fateh gave birth to four children -- at least one in a government hospital.

She told police she never applied for a visa during her stay in Pakistan.

CNN

 
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