Italy has issued an order to deport Bologna-based 54-year-old Pakistani Imam Zulfikar Khan from the country on October 8, 2024. Zulfikar Khan was living in Italy since 1995 and now the Georgia Meloni government has canceled his residence permit. The administrative order said that the behavior of Pakistani citizen Zulfikar Khan appeared to be increasing towards radicalization and extremism since the end of 2023. In particular, his rhetoric included harsh and inflammatory comments toward Westerners, Jews, homosexuals, and feminism.
Reportedly, during one of his sermons, Khan had incited Muslims to protest against taxes imposed by the government. He had said that these resources should remain within the Muslim community and should not be given to anyone else. Additionally, he described homosexuality as “a disease” and stated it was the right of Muslims to stop it.
After monitoring Khan's social media activities, it was found that between November 2023 and April 2024, his videos accused the Americans, Germans, French, British and Italians of supporting the Zionists. In his speeches he also prayed to Allah to destroy these “oppressors”. Italian officials said Zulfikan Khan was found to have links with foreigners linked to Islamic militant groups and raised the possibility that he could facilitate the entry of political-religious and paramilitary organizations into the Bologna region.
In May 2024, from the pulpit of a mosque, Khan praised Hamas and criticized Israel, saying that Hamas is not a terrorist organization but is protecting its soil. He called Western countries, especially Israel and the US, “terrorists” and “killers”. Many of Khan's statements also included anti-Semitic comments. In 2021, in the main square of Bologna, he publicly claimed that the Bible's Gospel of John described a portion of the Jews as cruel. In 2024 he said that the term anti-Semitism was invented in the 18th century and did not describe Zionists as anti-Semitic.
Khan had challenged the Italian government officials. He had said that the Constitution of Italy gives him the protection to say whatever he wants. However, Italian officials made it clear that hate speech and support of terrorism will not be tolerated. Home Minister Piantadosi signed Khan's deportation order on 8 October. The order came after US sanctions on Hamas supporter Mohammed Hanoun, who was accused of raising funds for Hamas. Italy has signaled with the deportation of Zulfikar Khan that there is no place for terrorism and radical ideology in the country.
