Ghanem, in her first interview with Western media, told The Guardian of London that bin Laden was a shy, academically capable boy, who turned into a strong, pious figure while an economics student in Jeddah in his early 20s.
Speaking at her family’s home in Saudi Arabia, she said:
“The people at university changed him. He became a different man,’’ she told the newspaper, which said bin Laden had met Abdullah Azzam, a Muslim Brotherhood member, who became his spiritual adviser, at the university.
“He was a very good child until he met some people, who pretty much brainwashed him in his early 20s.
“You can call it a cult; they got money for their cause.
“I would always tell him to stay away from them and he would never admit to me what he was doing because he loved me so much.’’
“He was a very good child until he met some people, who pretty much brainwashed him in his early 20s.
“You can call it a cult; they got money for their cause.
“I would always tell him to stay away from them and he would never admit to me what he was doing because he loved me so much.’’