ROME — Italy has expelled a second imam within a week as it seeks to prevent extremist preachers from radicalizing others.
Interior Minister Angelino Alfano announced the expulsion of Khairredine Romdhane Ben Chedli on Thursday. The 35-year-old Tunisian was recently absolved of terrorism-related charges by Italy’s highest court but Alfano said his support for jihad rendered him unfit to stay, the ANSA news agency reported.
The Interior Ministry announced Aug. 13 the expulsion of another imam arrested in the same 2013 sweep as Ben Chedli. The two expulsions bring the number of suspected extremists kicked out of Italy in 2016 to 44, with another 110 expelled last year.
Alfano has defended the expulsions but has rejected other measures, such as banning burkinis as some French mayors have done, as overly provocative.
