Carmen bin Ladin, sister-in-law of Osama

In a statement issued on her behalf, Mrs bin Laden said: "I am aware that by my daring to speak up, a war will be declared on my daughters and me by that powerful clan. Lawsuits will be filed, our integrity questioned, our credibility discredited. "If, however, it is considered a crime as a woman to aspire to freedom of thought and the protection of basic rights, then we will fight back with an unparalleled strength in the knowledge that our defence is the defence of truth."