Turin’s Imam Risks Deportation.

Photo by Moslem Daneshzadeh on unsplash.com

On 24 November 2025, Mohamed Shahin, imam of the San Salvario’s mosque and resident in Italy for 21 years, was stopped by the police and notified of a deportation order issued by the Ministry of the Interior for reasons of public order and national security. Despite being in possession of a residence permit for long-term residents, having no criminal record, and a long-standing role in promoting interreligious dialogue, Italian authorities claim he has embarked on a path of religious radicalisation.

The imam of San Salvario's mosque (Turin) Mohamed Shahin has been accused by the Italian Ministry of the Interior of having a prominent part in Islamist extremism. His long-term EC residence permit has been revoked according to the "possibility of expelling foreign nationals if they constitute a threat to national security". The charges against Shahin include gathering with two individuals later radicalised (meetings that occurred in 2012 and 2018, before any sign of extremism), participation in a road blockade during a pro-Palestine demonstration, and a controversial statement made during a protest on 9 October 2023 regarding the events of two days prior (7 October 2023) against Israel. 

However, this accusation has not been accompanied by sufficient evidence: the Turin public prosecutor’s office dismissed the case, explicitly stating that his remarks ("What happened on 7 October 2023 is not a violation, is not a violence") fell within the bounds of freedom of expression and did not constitute a criminal offence. He was later transferred to the Caltanissetta (Sicily) detention centre for migrants (Centro di Permanenza per il Rimpatrio), far from his family and legal support, and submitted an asylum request at the Turin police headquarters. The asylum request was rapidly rejected under an accelerated procedure influenced by Italy’s classification of Egypt as a “safe country of origin”. As of right now, Shahin is awaiting his repatriation to Egypt.

According to Annalisa Camilli, this case reflects broader tendencies in Italy and across Western countries: the criminalisation of dissent and the long-established paradigm that is framing migrants as potential threats. The gap between judicial evaluation (which found no serious evidence) and the executive’s decision (which deemed him dangerous) raises concerns about the erosion of Article 21 of the Italian Constitution protecting freedom of expression.

Shahin’s case triggered widespread mobilisation from civil society and human rights organisations, raising concerns about due process and the misuse of national security legislation. On 27 November 2025 more than 400 people held a torchlight demonstration demanding Shahin’s liberation.

Moreover, tension escalated on 28 November, when a small group of youths attacked the Turin newsroom of La Stampa, accusing it of misreporting the case. Several local Catholic religious authorities, like the bishop of Pinerolo Derio Olivero, expressed concern about the consequences the imam could face if repatriated to Egypt, arguing that his return to the country “would pose significant risks” to his safety.

He has been a hard-working man with no criminal record, and, as Olivero attested, "(Shahin) has always worked for dialogue and collaboration in Turin. It seems strange and absurd to me that he now risks being expelled for expressing his opinions. In Italy, there is freedom of opinion... we may disagree with opinions, but we cannot condemn a person simply for the opinions they express".

Thirteen human rights organisations, including Amnesty International Italy, Egyptian Human Rights Forum (EHRF), Refugees Platform in Egypt (RPE), and Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECFR), issued a joint appeal urging Italy to halt the expulsion, emphasising the violation of the non-refoulement principle (article 33). They highlighted a consistent practice by the Egyptian authorities of retaliation and intimidation against the families of political opponents, including arbitrary arrests, prolonged detention beyond the legal limits, and torture.

International organisations argue that Italy must uphold its human rights obligations by ensuring respect for due process, protecting freedom of expression, and suspending his deportation. Shahin is a well-integrated resident, father of two minors, and respected religious leader who contributed to dialogue between communities during key moments such as the ISIS attacks in Europe. Several NGOs warn that, going back to Egypt, he will be at risk of ill-treatment because of his family’s past association with the Muslim Brotherhood and his public criticism of Egyptian President al-Sisi.

written by Giada Renzetti