MINISTER OF STATE: PROTECTING BIN LADEN'S SON A

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000802

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2018
TAGS: EG PGOV PHUM PTER QA SP UK
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF STATE: PROTECTING BIN LADEN'S SON A
BURDEN, BUT "QATAR IS GENEROUS"

Classified By: Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)


1. (C) In a meeting with Ambassador on November 10, Minister
of State for International Cooperation and Conferences Khalid
Al Attiyah discussed the reported arrival of Omar Bin Laden
and his wife in Doha the evening of November 10. Al Attiyah
could not confirm the arrival, since he was not involved in
the case, but did not believe Bin Laden and his wife were
entitled to political asylum. The Bin Ladens were not fleeing
from governmental oppression, he noted, but from threats
posed by Islamic extremists sympathetic to his father.
Personal security was the issue. Al Attiyah noted that Bin
Laden had Saudi citizenship, and the fact that he had not
returned to Saudi Arabia was a likely indicator that he
doubted the ability of the regime there to protect him.


2. (C) Al Attiyah pointed out that as a Saudi citizen, Omar
Bin Laden was entitled remain in Qatar with his wife. Al
Attiyah said that if Bin Laden elected to remain in Qatar,
the security necessary to protect them would constitute a
burden. But, he noted, "Qatar is generous."


3. (C) Separately, Consular Chief was told by the British
Consul in Doha November 10 that the UK Embassy here is
concerned that Omar Bin Laden may still be seeking asylum in
the UK and so may show up at their Embassy here - something
the Brits here would rather not have to deal with. The
British Consul said he understood from his colleagues in
Madrid, where bin Laden had been living, that he may also
have expressed interest in seeking asylum in the U.S. and so
may contact the U.S. Embassy in Doha.


4. (C) ACTION REQUEST: Embassy seeks Washington guidance on
whether there should be any special handling for such an
inquiry, should it occur.
LeBaron