From a Turin Mosque to Detention: The Story of an Imam at the Center of a National Debate
Mohamed Shahin is an imam of Egyptian origin who has lived in Italy for over twenty years. In Turin he is a well-known figure, a point of reference for the San Salvario mosque and a religious guide for a large and diverse community. Over the years, he has built a stable life in the country, combining his spiritual role with social engagement and dialogue with the local community.
His legal ordeal began in the autumn of 2025, following a public speech delivered during a demonstration in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Some statements made on that occasion, related to the events of October 7, 2023, were reported by security forces as potentially ambiguous. The Turin public prosecutor’s office, however, after conducting its investigations, decided to dismiss the case from a criminal standpoint, finding that there were no elements constituting a crime.
Despite the absence of criminal charges, the Ministry of the Interior intervened on an administrative level. At the end of November 2025, Shahin’s residence permit was revoked and an expulsion order was issued on grounds of state security. The imam was detained and transferred to the Repatriation Detention Center (CPR) in Caltanissetta, pending forced deportation to Egypt. Before the judges, Shahin rejected all accusations of extremism, reiterated that he had never supported violence, and stated that he feared severe persecution if returned to his country of origin.
His arrest sparked a strong public reaction. In Turin and other cities, demonstrations, appeals, and statements followed from associations, activists, and religious and political figures. Many emphasized the disproportionality of the measure, recalling Shahin’s long residence in Italy and his role within the local community. The case quickly became a national issue, symbolizing the tension between security, freedom of expression, and fundamental rights.
After weeks of detention in the CPR and a complex legal battle, in mid-December 2025 the Court of Appeal upheld the defense’s appeal and ordered the suspension of the detention. Mohamed Shahin was released and allowed to leave the detention center. The decision did not definitively close the case: the expulsion order remains subject to further appeals, and his administrative status remains uncertain.
