François-Xavier Trégan, special to the Pulitzer Center
Nasser al Bahri, 36 years old, calmly disclaims all names given to him: “terrorist” by the United States, “infidel” by Islamists, embarrassing persona for Yemeni authorities, and role model for the younger generation… “So which one would you like to talk to?” the Yemeni asks. The former bodyguard of Osama Bin Laden has come to terms with the entirety of his experiences, but taken one by one in the context of the path he's taken and the apprenticeship he’s received.
Born in Saudi Arabia to Yemeni parents, the young Nasser was molded by newspapers and television. During the 1980s the first Intifada engulfed the Palestinian territories, and the images taken together showed a continuous chain of killing and torture. From that moment on, Nasser decided to be the defender of "good deeds, guided by emotion". It is thus that one day in 1994 he told his incredulous father of his commitment to the Jihad, and soon after secretly left the family home after morning prayer. Destination: Bosnia.
Nasser al Bahri, 36 years old, calmly disclaims all names given to him: “terrorist” by the United States, “infidel” by Islamists, embarrassing persona for Yemeni authorities, and role model for the younger generation… “So which one would you like to talk to?” the Yemeni asks. The former bodyguard of Osama Bin Laden has come to terms with the entirety of his experiences, but taken one by one in the context of the path he's taken and the apprenticeship he’s received. Born in Saudi Arabia to Yemeni parents, the young Nasser was molded by newspapers and television. During the 1980s the first Intifada engulfed the Palestinian territories, and the images taken together showed a continuous chain of killing and torture. From that moment on, Nasser decided to be the defender of "good deeds, guided by emotion". It is thus that one day in 1994 he told his incredulous father of his commitment to the Jihad, and soon after secretly left the family home after morning prayer. Destination: Bosnia.
