Editing Osama bin Laden (section)

=== Villainy ===
Bin Laden had been in hiding for years and there had been doubts as to whether or not the mastermind was even still alive - but every now and then, Osama released a videotape of himself trying to intimidate the Western world with threats of further violence: Because of the nature of Islamic fundamentalism, it is argued that bin Laden and his followers were amongst the most dangerous terrorists in modern-times.[[File:September 11 Photo Montage.jpg|thumb]]

However, unlike many of his followers, bin Laden hadn't shown himself to be fanatical enough to risk his own life; in fact, he had gone to great lengths to ensure his own survival, despite encouraging others to commit [[Suicide Bombing|suicide bombings]] and other atrocities in defense of his cause. After escaping Afghanistan during the Battle of Tora Bora, he fled to neighboring Pakistan. When his compound was finally discovered, he used one of his own wives as a human shield and was gunned down attempting to flee and save his own life.

Bin Laden was a strong believer in Sharia law and believed that all other ideologies must be opposed violently and without mercy - he also believed that civilians (even women and children) are legitimate targets in his war against the unbeliever, he often viewed America and Israel as imperialistic nations that must be destroyed or convinced into merging with Islam, he had often urged America and the Western world, in general, to abandon such vices as music, sex, and liberalism: He was also [[Anti-Semitism|anti-semitic]] and believed that Jews are a dangerous enemy of Islam and must be treated as such.<ref>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-final-days-bin-laden-urged-followers-to-kill-jews/ In final days, Bin Laden urged followers to kill Jews], ''The Times of Israel''</ref><ref>[https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2011/09/14/osama-bin-laden-anti-semitic-conspiracy-theorist/ OSAMA BIN LADEN: ANTI-SEMITIC CONSPIRACY THEORIST], The Foundation for Defense of Democracies</ref>

Osama's violent criticism of the world was not limited to the Western world as he also believed almost all current Muslim nations had failed in their responsibilities as Muslim nations, he once believed that the [[Taliban]]-controlled Afghanistan was the only true Muslim nation in the world.

In 2010, bin Laden threatened in a new audio message with killing French citizens in retaliation for France's support for the United States in the [[War in Afghanistan]] and because the European country will ban women from the use of the Muslim veil.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-france-threat/analysis-bin-laden-burqa-ban-put-france-in-qaeda-crosshairs-idUKTRE6AM62Z20101123 Analysis - Bin Laden, burqa ban put France in Qaeda crosshairs], ''Reuters''</ref>