Italian authorities have expelled Pakistani imam Ali Kashif after he publicly defended child marriage on television, following an immediate order from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Kashif, 25, who had lived in Italy for six years, was removed under national security provisions that allow the expulsion of foreigners judged a danger to public order or safety.
The case stems from an undercover report aired on the Rete 4 programme Fuori dal Coro, in which a reporter posing as a student filmed Kashif saying that nine-year-old girls could marry men in their 30s and 40s. The broadcast prompted public outrage and a review by officials in Brescia.
Authorities said the deportation order cited concerns for public order and safety and noted that Kashif did not hold a valid residence permit at the time of removal. Police escorted him to Milan’s Malpensa Airport, where he was placed on a flight to Islamabad.
The incident has triggered political debate, with lawmakers and officials calling for tougher action against practices and religious interpretations they view as incompatible with Italian law and social norms. Officials have not provided additional details about any separate legal proceedings connected to the television appearance.
