Italy deports migrant imam after controversial claim citing Qur’an to justify child marriage

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Italian authorities have expelled a Pakistani-origin imam following widespread public outrage triggered by statements he made during an undercover media investigation. The controversy erupted after the cleric was filmed citing religious justification for the marriage of girls as young as nine, drawing sharp criticism across the country.

According to a report published on April 2 by Il Giornale, Paolo Sartori, the police commissioner of Brescia—often referred to as Italy’s Islamic “capital”—ordered the deportation of the imam, identified as Ali Kashif. The decision came after Kashif told a reporter from the television program Fuori dal Coro that girls could be married after reaching their first menstrual cycle.

The footage was captured by journalist Francesco Leone of Channel 4, who conducted the undercover investigation by posing as an Italian man interested in converting to Islam. During the interaction, Leone sought clarification on whether the religion permits older men to marry underage girls, prompting the controversial remarks from Kashif.

After reviewing the evidence, Sartori invoked Article 4, paragraph 3, of Italy’s Consolidated Law on Immigration, which allows authorities to deport foreign nationals deemed a threat to public order or national security, or those implicated in sexual offenses.

Further investigation by Brescia police revealed that Kashif did not hold a valid residence permit. His application for legal residency was subsequently denied, strengthening the case for his removal.

Authorities swiftly acted on the order, escorting Kashif to Milan Malpensa Airport. He was then placed on a flight bound for Islamabad, with a layover in Bangkok, under the supervision of immigration officials, effectively ending his stay in Italy.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)