Mullah Omar was the founder and leader of the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group in Afghanistan. He emerged as a prominent figure in the 1990s, leading the Taliban to take control of the country in 1996. Under his leadership, the Taliban enforced strict interpretations of Islamic law. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Mullah Omar refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, which led to the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. He remained in hiding for many years and was reported dead in 2013, although his death was not publicly confirmed until 2015.