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25 year old Pakistani imam, Ali Kashif. Image credit/Social media
Italian authorities have deported a Pakistani imam after he publicly defended child marriage on television. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni ordered his immediate deportation the following day.
The incident was reported earlier this month.
Despite 25-year-old Pakistani imam, Ali Kashif, six-year residency, Italian authorities used national security laws to remove him.
These laws empower the government to expel any foreigner deemed a “danger to society” or a threat to public order. The swift move highlighted Italy’s strict stance on protecting social values and public safety against extremist or harmful ideologies.
The case emerged following an undercover segment aired on the Italian television program Fuori dal Coro, in which a reporter posed as a student exploring Islamic teachings.
During the interaction, he said nine-year-old girls can marry men in their 30s and 40s. Italian authorities put him on a plane to Pakistan.
The footage prompted public outrage after broadcast on the Rete 4 programme. Authorities in the northern city of Brescia subsequently reviewed the material and ordered the man’s removal from Italian territory.
Paolo Sartori, the police commissioner of Brescia in northern Italy, reviewed footage from the undercover operation conducted by a journalist from Channel 4’s programme Fuori dal Coro. In the sting, the reporter posed as an Italian interested in converting to Islam and asked questions about marriage practices.
During the interaction, Kashif allegedly made statements suggesting that girls could be married after their first menstrual cycle. Authorities considered these remarks highly sensitive and potentially linked to issues of public order.
Based on the findings, Kashif’s deportation was ordered under Article 4, paragraph 3 of Italy’s Consolidated Law on Immigration. The provision allows for the removal of foreign nationals deemed a threat to public safety or involved in serious offences, including sex-related crimes.
Police further found that Kashif did not hold a valid residence permit in Italy and had been denied renewal after applying for legal stay. This strengthened the legal basis for his removal.
Following the order, Kashif was escorted by immigration officers to Milan Malpensa Airport and placed on a flight to Islamabad, with a transit stop in Bangkok.
The deportation highlights Italy’s strict enforcement of immigration and public safety laws, particularly in cases involving sensitive social or legal concerns.
According to reports, the deportation order was issued by the local police commissioner on grounds related to public order and safety concerns. Officials also noted that the individual did not hold a valid residence permit at the time of the decision.
He was escorted by police to Milan’s Malpensa Airport and placed on a flight to Islamabad, Pakistan.
Italian media reported that the case has since sparked political debate, with lawmakers and officials highlighting concerns over forced marriage and extremist interpretations of religious doctrine. The ruling political leadership has also indicated support for stricter measures targeting practices deemed incompatible with Italian law and social norms.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding any ongoing legal proceedings related to the broadcast.
