Imam and interfaith dialogue advocate in Turin's Islamic community.
If he were deported to Egypt, a country known for its propensity for torture and enforced disappearances, Mohamed Shahin's life would be in danger.HuMENA Editorial
An imam and community mediator in Turin for two decades, Mohamed Shahin faces deportation to Egypt after Italy revoked his residence permit over his participation in Palestine solidarity protests.
Mohamed Mahmoud Ebrahim Shahin lived in Turin, Italy, for approximately twenty years. He held long-term European residence status and had no criminal record at the time his permit was revoked. As an imam, he played an active role in the city's Islamic community and was known for promoting interfaith dialogue initiatives between Muslim, Christian, and secular organizations.
Local movements in Turin remember Shahin as a mediator during public demonstrations, particularly those in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Witnesses describe him working to ensure protests remained peaceful, positioning himself between demonstrators and police to prevent confrontations from escalating.
In May 2025, Shahin participated in a demonstration in Turin protesting violence against Palestinians in Gaza. Italian authorities later accused him of involvement in a roadblock during this protest—a claim that became a central justification for his expulsion proceedings.
In October 2025, Shahin attended another Palestine solidarity demonstration in Turin, where he made a public statement commenting on the 7 October attacks. The Italian Ministry of the Interior cited this statement in the expulsion decree as evidence of extremist ideology and a threat to national security.
On 25 November 2025, the Italian Ministry of the Interior revoked Shahin's long-term European residence permit pursuant to Article 13, paragraph 1, of Decree No. 286/1998, the Consolidated Law on Immigration. This provision allows for the expulsion of foreign nationals deemed to present a profile of social danger or a threat to national security.
The expulsion decree accused Shahin of belonging to an extremist ideology, citing his participation in the May roadblock and his October public statement. Following his detention at a police station, authorities transferred him to the Repatriation Center (CPR) in Caltanissetta, far from his family, community, and legal defense team.
After his residence permit was revoked, Shahin submitted an application for international protection. Italian authorities rejected the application following an expedited review process. The decision was influenced by Italy's classification of Egypt as a "safe country of origin"—a designation that presumes deportees will not face persecution or serious harm upon return.
This classification disregarded documented patterns of Egyptian authorities subjecting returned citizens to arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and torture, particularly those perceived as government critics or political opponents. Egyptian citizens deported from abroad—both voluntarily and through repatriation procedures—have been targeted for their actual or perceived criticism of the government.
Members of Shahin's family have previously been prosecuted in Egypt for their political views. Egyptian authorities routinely retaliate against the families of political opponents and perceived dissidents through arbitrary arrests, unfair trials, torture, and enforced disappearances. Shahin's designation by Italian authorities as a security threat or "social threat" would heighten the risk he faces upon return, signaling to Egyptian authorities that he is a person of interest.
Civil society organizations sent letters to the Italian Prime Minister and Ministry of Interior detailing the human rights violations Shahin would face if deported, accompanied by documentation of Egypt's torture practices and the targeting of returned citizens. As of the date of publication, no response has been received.
The expulsion proceedings against Shahin represent an instrumentalization of national security legislation to suppress peaceful dissent. At the time of his permit revocation, he had no criminal record and was actively engaged in interfaith and community work. The charges brought against him—participation in a protest roadblock and a public statement on Palestine—are inconsistent with the legal threshold for expulsion under Article 13, paragraph 1, of the Consolidated Law on Immigration.
Italy's obligations under international human rights law, including the principle of non-refoulement enshrined in the Convention Against Torture and the European Convention on Human Rights, prohibit deportation to countries where individuals face a real risk of torture, enforced disappearance, or other serious human rights violations. Proceeding with Shahin's deportation would place Italy in direct breach of these obligations.
Italy is proceeding with the forced return of Shahin to Egypt despite his family members having been previously prosecuted there for political views, and despite his designation as a security threat—a designation that signals to Egyptian authorities that he is a person of interest and heightens his risk of arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearance upon return.
This case file was compiled by HuMENA's Egypt research team from primary documentation, public filings, family-supplied legal documents, and confidential partner reporting. Editorial responsibility rests with the HuMENA Editorial Board. Where dates or facts are uncertain, the record errs on the side of the source material and notes uncertainty in the live archive at humena.org.
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