International News Desk: Italy expelled 25-year-old Pakistani Imam Ali Kashif after he publicly justified the marriage of minor girls, triggering nationwide outrage and raising fresh concerns over extremist social norms linked to Pakistan.
The controversy erupted after an undercover investigation by Italian TV programme “Fuori dal Coro” exposed Kashif stating that girls as young as nine could be considered ready for marriage after puberty. The remarks were widely condemned as a violation of children’s rights and Italian law.
Following a review of the footage, Brescia Police Commissioner Paola Sartori initiated deportation proceedings, with authorities declaring Kashif a threat to public order and social stability. Italian officials further cited his lack of valid residency status.
After living in Italy for six years, Kashif was deported to Islamabad from Milan Malpensa airport under Italy’s National Security Act, which allows expulsion of foreigners deemed dangerous to society.
The incident has intensified debate in Europe over the persistence of child marriage practices and conservative social norms in Pakistan. According to UNICEF, nearly one in six young women in Pakistan are married before the age of 18.
The case follows another deportation of Pakistani-origin Imam Zulfiqar Khan from Bologna in October 2024 over controversial online activities, signaling a broader Italian crackdown on radical influences.
