South Asian Communities in Italy Under Scrutiny: A Pakistani Imam's Deportation and Sikh Diaspora Security Fears

Italy's South Asian diaspora — among the largest in Western Europe, with hundreds of thousands of Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi nationals spread across cities like Brescia, Milan, and Turin — finds itself at the center of two significant stories that speak to the pressures facing Muslim and Sikh communities in the country. One concerns a Pakistani religious leader whose extremist teachings led to his deportation; the other highlights the vulnerability felt by Sikh activists across the diaspora following the targeted killing of a prominent figure in Canada. Together, they illuminate the complex realities facing South Asians who have built lives far from the subcontinent.

Italy Deports Pakistani Imam from Brescia Who Endorsed Marrying Nine-Year-Old Girls

Italian authorities have deported a Pakistani imam based in the Brescia area after he was found to have publicly endorsed the marriage of girls as young as nine years old, a stance the Italian government deemed incompatible with the country's constitutional values and legal framework. The case, reported by the Middle East Forum, reflects Italy's increasingly firm approach to religious figures who preach norms that violate Italian law and human rights standards. Brescia has one of the largest Pakistani communities in Italy, and the deportation has sparked a wider conversation within that community about the obligations that come with Italian residency and citizenship, as well as the responsibilities of religious leaders to uphold the rights and dignity of women and girls. Italian law sets the minimum age of marriage at sixteen with judicial authorization, and endorsing child marriage — particularly to girls as young as nine — is not merely culturally objectionable but constitutes advocacy for practices that would constitute serious criminal offences under Italian penal code. The deportation follows a pattern of Italian authorities taking action against imams and religious figures who promote extremist interpretations of Islamic law in ways that endanger vulnerable populations. For the broader Pakistani community in Brescia and across northern Italy, the case underscores the importance of distinguishing between religious practice, which Italian law protects, and incitement to practices that harm children. Community leaders have largely welcomed efforts to remove figures whose teachings could endanger community members, while also calling for greater nuance in how authorities engage with Muslim communities overall. [1]

Sikh Activists Across Europe on Edge After Vancouver Killing Sends Shockwaves Through Global Diaspora

The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh activist and leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force, in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, has sent shockwaves of fear and anxiety through Sikh diaspora communities across the world — including the small but active Sikh community in Brescia and northern Italy. The Guardian's reporting details how Sikh activists and community figures in multiple countries have received warnings from local police that they may be in danger, with some being told directly that their lives are under threat. The case has drawn international condemnation, with the Canadian government alleging that agents of the Indian government were involved in Nijjar's killing, an allegation India has denied but which has strained diplomatic relations between the two countries significantly. For Sikhs in Italy — many of whom have deep-rooted agricultural and industrial communities in Lombardy and the Veneto — the case has reawakened awareness of the risks facing politically active diaspora members who maintain connections to the Khalistan movement and broader Punjabi political causes. Community members interviewed by The Guardian describe a combination of grief, anger, and wariness, with some activists reducing their public footprint, avoiding community events, and consulting legal counsel about their safety. The case has also focused attention on what protections European governments owe to diaspora communities that may be targeted by foreign state actors, prompting calls for enhanced security intelligence-sharing and proactive outreach to vulnerable community leaders. Sikh temples in Italy have become focal points for community solidarity and political discussion as the broader diaspora works through its response. [2]

Sources: [1] meforum.org · [2] The Guardian