Bin Laden book banned From AFP December 31, 2001 A FRENCH book about Osama bin Laden, called The Forbidden Truth, had been banned in Switzerland at the request of one of bin Laden's half brothers, Yeslam Binladin, his lawyer, Jurg Brand, said. Binladin is claiming 20 million Swiss francs ($23.73 million) in damages for defamation from the co-authors, Jean-Charles Brisard and Guillaume Dasquie, and the publishers of the book, Guy Birenbaum and Olivier Rubinstein of Denoel publishing house. He claims the book falsely says he was closely linked to the man blamed by the United States for the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. The German translation of the book, which was due to be published in Switzerland in the next few days, has also been banned. Binladin has lived in Switzerland for about 20 years and has held a Swiss passport for nearly a year. Brand said further legal action was planned in Switzerland. A complaint has also been lodged against the French website www.intelligenceonline.fr for promoting the book. The disputed book's co-author, Dasquie, is the editor in chief of the website. Binladin says he has not had any contact with his half brother for a number of years. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,3514962^1702,00.html