各国名人英文介绍-Osama bin Laden（在线收听）

Osama bin Laden was born into a wealthy Saudi Arabian family in 1957. He is widely believed to be the founder of Al-Qaeda. The US accuses him of being the mastermind and money behind many bombings of airplanes, embassies and other Western targets in the 1990s. Today, he is on the USA’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

At university, he was deeply interested in religion. He believed that Sharia law was the only way ahead for Muslims. He called for Muslims to oppose ideas like pan-Arabism, communism and democracy. He left college in 1979 to fight the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. He believes Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban was "the only Islamic country" in the Muslim world.

In the late ‘90s, he called it a duty for Muslims to kill Western civilians and soldiers. He wanted the West to withdraw their armies from Muslim countries and stop supporting Israel. The world knew Osama bin Laden’s name after the 9-11 attacks. The American FBI say they have clear evidence linking him to the attacks, although bin Laden has always denied any involvement.

America and its allies have never caught Osama bin Laden, despite massive efforts. His current whereabouts is a mystery. Many believe he is in hiding on the Pakistan-Afghan border, while other reports state he died due to serious health problems. Regardless of these reports, bin Laden keeps appearing in videoed recordings, urging his supporters to continue their fight.