70% of Minors in Milan Juvenile Jail Are Muslim, Say Authorities

70% of Minors in Milan Juvenile Jail Are Muslim, Say Authorities
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At the Cesare Beccaria juvenile detention centre in Milan, roughly 70% of detainees are Muslim, most of whom are second-generation immigrants, according to a report by Il Giornale. The high concentration of Muslim youth in custody has raised alarms among Italian authorities, who view the trend as a potential social crisis in the making.

The detained minors are typically held for crimes such as robbery, drug-related offences, and acts of violence. Many come from marginalized backgrounds, characterized by limited access to education, minimal integration into broader society, and alienation from Western cultural norms. These conditions, officials warn, make them particularly vulnerable to radical ideologies.

In response, prison authorities have brought in Abdullah Tchina, imam of the Islamic community in Sesto San Giovanni, to work with the detainees. His role is to counter extremist narratives and guide the youths toward a balanced understanding of their faith, while supporting their social and religious reintegration.

The initiative, however, has drawn political criticism. Member of Parliament Riccardo De Corato, representing the ruling conservative party Fratelli d’Italia, expressed concern that involving an imam in the rehabilitation process could be counterproductive, potentially reinforcing, rather than diffusing, radical sentiments among the detainees.