Italian authorities have expelled Pakistani imam Zulfiqar Khan, a long-time religious leader in Bologna. The Ministry of the Interior deemed his activities a security threat and ordered his expulsion from the country. Khan has also been banned from re-entering Italy and the entire Schengen Area for ten years.
Khan, who led the Iqraa Islamic Center in Bologna, had lived in Italy since the mid-1990s. The case returned to public attention after Italy’s State Council dismissed his appeal against the expulsion in 2026.
Ministry cited his radical sermons
The expulsion order was signed by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.
According to Italian authorities, Khan promoted a fundamentalist interpretation of jihad in his sermons, glorified martyrdom, and praised the activities of mujahideen in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He was also accused of publicly supporting Hamas and of having contacts within radical Islamist circles.
Imam active in Bologna for decades
Zulfiqar Khan, originally from Pakistan, arrived in Italy in 1995.
He settled in Bologna, where he became active in the local Muslim community. He held long-term EU residency status, but this was revoked by the interior ministry in connection with the expulsion.
Over the years, Khan built both family and professional ties in Italy.
His lawyer opposed the decision
Khan’s attorney, Francesco Murru, challenged the authorities’ decision.
The defense argued that the ministry was interpreting Khan’s statements as a security threat, when in their view they were political and religious positions.
The legal team filed appeals against the expulsion.
Court upheld the expulsion
The expulsion was upheld shortly after it was issued, resulting in Khan’s removal from Italy.
The legal dispute continued in administrative courts.
In 2026, Italy’s State Council rejected Khan’s appeal, confirming that the interior ministry was within its rights to assess his public activities as a possible threat to state security.
Italy has repeatedly taken a tougher stance on migration and security policies in recent years.
Ban applies to entire Schengen Area
The expulsion did not only result in a ban from Italy.
Khan was banned from entering not only Italy but all Schengen countries for ten years.
Italian authorities justified their decision on grounds of national security and the content of Khan’s public speeches. His defense repeatedly opposed this during court proceedings.
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The case of Zulfiqar Khan has now received further legal confirmation over a year after his expulsion.
The imam remains outside of Italy, and the ten-year ban on entering the country and the Schengen area is still in effect.
This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
