Louisville native writes book on bin Laden’s son, first wife

Jean Sasson never expected to come face-to-face with the family of Osama bin Laden.

But an unexpected email led to the Louisville native’s new book on the lives of bin Laden’s first wife and fourth son.

Jean Sasson recently completed her new book, “Growing Up bin Laden”, which chronicles the lives of bin Laden’s first wife, Najwa, and his fourth son, Omar.

Sasson, a best-selling author, has received numerous requests from readers asking her to write their stories. But finding an email from Omar bin Laden in her inbox was a surreal surprise.

The email included a phone number and a request.

“He wanted me to tell his life story,” said Sasson.
“I knew from my time spent in Egypt that it was an Egyptian cell phone number,” she continued. “So, I called.  A very soft-spoken man answered and he identified himself as the son of Osama bin Laden.

“I asked him why he had approached me, and it seems he had either heard of Princess Sultana, or knew her family. He thought I could be trusted to write his story truthfully as other Arabs had trusted me.”

Sasson lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for 12 years and has kept many contacts in the Middle East. She is the author of several books about life for women in the Middle East. Her experience in Saudi Arabia and her understanding of Middle Eastern culture give her a unique perspective to write her stories. Her earlier work writing about women in the Middle East opened the doorway for her to write this book.

“Omar would have never trusted me to open up his heart and soul had I no knowledge of his country, his culture and his religion,” she said.

Yet, Sasson nearly turned the story opportunity down.

“I was uncertain at first only because my specialty is writing about women,” she said. “I spoke with Omar nearly every day over the phone, and slowly came to see that he was a very likable young man.
“I was in admiration that he had left his father’s side and called out for peace.  I know the Arab mentality well, and I know how difficult it is for an Arab man to turn away from his father—much more difficult than it is in our western society.  Despite this, I finally told him that I didn’t think I should write his story.”

Not long afterward, Sasson received a letter from Najwa bin Laden, Omar’s mother and Osama’s first wife. The letter was written in Arabic and had to be translated by a trusted friend of Sasson.
“It was a mother talking about her son,” said Sasson, “and how special he was.”

“I could only assume that she wanted to convince me that I should write about her son.  She had a lot of little sweet stories about him and how he lived his life.
“After thinking about it, I called Omar and told him that I would do the book if his mother would allow me to interview her and to tell her story as well.”

Sasson sent questions to Najwa but they had to be translated into Arabic. The answers would then be translated back into English. Sasson describes this method for writing the book as “grueling” but it was the best way for her to get the material she needed to write the book. Other times, she would get a female Arab friend to translate conversations over the phone.

“It really was surreal to me at times that I was chatting away with the wife of Osama bin Laden!” said Sasson. “But I am happy I got to know these two very fine and honorable people.”
She originally planned to write the book in 12 months. In reality, it took approximately 16 months filled with 12 to 14-hour days in front of the computer.

Sasson said she was most deeply touched by a story Najwa told of when she left her little son, Ladin, twice to return to Syria. The first trip was to give birth to her 11th child. The second was when she left Afghanistan for good.

“I wept when writing about that incident,” said Sasson. “Little Ladin, a frail little boy, wanting his mother, crying for her not to leave him in Afghanistan.  (On the first trip) he followed them to the car, pleading with Najwa and Omar not to leave him.  On her final trip out, Osama would not allow Najwa to take but the two youngest babies when she left.  I realize now that he was holding her children as hostages.  He thought she would return because of her children.  She never saw little Ladin again, nor any of the other five left behind.  That broke my heart for those children.”

The book is written from a first person point of view alternating between Najwa and Omar. The tale begins with Najwa as a young girl. In the end, Omar’s story takes up the majority of the book.

“Omar’s story turned out to be the strongest part of the book,” said Sasson. “I was very pleased with that.”