Italian authorities have deported a Pakistani imam after comments he made on television defending child marriage prompted public outrage and a swift government response led by Giorgia Meloni.
The imam, identified as Ali Kashif, had reportedly been living in Italy for six years before his removal.
Officials said he was expelled under national security provisions that allow authorities to deport non-citizens considered a threat to public order or social stability.
The case came to light following an undercover segment broadcast on Italian program Fuori dal Coro. In the report, a journalist posing as a prospective convert to Islam asked questions about marriage practices
. During the exchange, Kashif allegedly stated that girls could marry after reaching puberty and suggested that nine-year-olds could wed significantly older men.
The footage, aired on Rete 4, triggered widespread criticism and prompted authorities in the northern city of Brescia to review the material. Local police commissioner Paolo Sartori subsequently ordered Kashif’s deportation.
Officials said the decision was based on Article 4 of Italy’s Consolidated Law on Immigration, which permits the removal of foreign nationals deemed a risk to public safety. Authorities also noted that Kashif did not hold a valid residence permit at the time, having previously been denied renewal.
Following the order, Kashif was escorted by police to Milan’s Malpensa Airport and placed on a flight to Islamabad, with a stopover in Bangkok.
The deportation has drawn political attention in Italy, where lawmakers have pointed to the case as evidence of the need for stricter enforcement against practices seen as incompatible with national law. The government has reiterated its position on safeguarding public order and addressing what it describes as extremist or harmful interpretations of religious doctrine.
Authorities have not indicated whether further legal action will be pursued in connection with the broadcast.
Relations sour between Trump and Meloni, with Pope Leo as the final straw
