Alfredo Santamato

Alfredo Santamato, born on April 29, 1979, in Bari, Italy, became the subject of significant attention following his conversion to Islam in 2013. A resident of Turi, a small town near Bari, Santamato’s conversion was influenced by his wife, a Muslim woman. His journey, however, took an unexpected turn from a simple religious conversion to one of increasing radicalization, leading to the surveillance of Italian authorities and an intricate case of modern extremism.
After his conversion, Santamato’s outward signs of religiosity grew, most notably his adoption of Islamic customs, such as growing a long beard. On social media, he held two profiles—one under his birth name, Alfredo Santamato, and the other under the name Mohamed Alfredo. It was on these platforms that he began to share personal reflections, including a post in which he lamented being mocked for his beard. He emphasized that his beard was an Islamic tradition, a visible marker of his faith, but also revealed his deep frustrations. In this post, which he quickly deleted, Santamato expressed his willingness to become a martyr, a statement that set off alarm bells. A co-worker captured a screenshot of this post and forwarded it to Italian authorities, thus triggering a multi-year investigation into Santamato’s activities.
The investigation revealed that Santamato was following the Hanbali school of thought of Islam, a conservative school that has historically been associated with movements such as Wahhabism and Salafism. These interpretations of Islam are often linked with more rigid and extreme views, including the strict application of Islamic law (Sharia). Through his social media presence, Santamato was not only vocal about his beliefs but also appeared to be building an international network of contacts with similarly radical inclinations. His online interactions drew attention to his associations with controversial figures in the extremist landscape.
A notable point of concern for authorities was Santamato’s appearance on Piazza Pulita, a program on the Italian network LA7. In this public forum, he openly endorsed extreme positions, including his support for the death penalty for adultery and the destruction of churches in Muslim-majority countries. Such declarations, while troubling in isolation, were part of a larger pattern that led Italian authorities to intensify their scrutiny. From 2016 onward, Santamato became a person of interest, with law enforcement closely monitoring his activities due to fears that his radicalization could manifest in violent actions.
During the three years he was under surveillance, it became evident that Santamato was deeply entrenched in a worldview that merged Islamic law with extremist ideology. His associations on social media included individuals such as Luca Aleotti, Asyalliee Ahmed, and Abdul Hi Shamsuddin. Aleotti, in particular, was someone who expressed a desire to travel to Syria, a conflict zone where many foreign fighters were joining ISIS. Santamato, rather than encouraging Aleotti to join the jihadist cause, suggested that Aleotti stay in Italy and find employment, thus preventing him from joining the ranks of foreign combatants. While this may have seemed like a more moderate stance, Santamato’s broader ideology was nevertheless in line with violent extremism.
Aleotti’s social media posts further cemented this network’s radical nature. On the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Aleotti shared an image of a man raising his finger to the sky—a symbol of Tawheed, or the Islamic concept of the oneness of God, but also a symbol frequently co-opted by radical groups such as ISIS. In addition, Santamato’s connections with figures like Ahmed, who shared ISIS-related content, and Shamsuddin, known for spreading martyrdom propaganda, underscored the depth of his involvement in an extremist ecosystem. These interactions, coupled with commune prayers for ISIS fighters, suggested that Santamato was, at the very least, an apologist for terrorism, if not directly involved in violent actions.
Despite his efforts to present himself occasionally as a supporter of Italian counter-terrorism efforts, Santamato’s actions and declarations pointed to a more troubling reality. His own wife, who had worn a hijab before their marriage, was reportedly pressured to wear the niqab, a sign of deepening Islamic conservatism in their household. As Santamato’s radicalization progressed, his beliefs took on more rigid and dangerous forms. He became focused on two Islamic concepts: Wala (loyalty) and Hukm (law), reflecting his growing preoccupation with loyalty to the Islamic cause and the imposition of Sharia law.
Santamato’s work as a driver also added to the concern, especially following the tragic events of the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack, where a truck was used as a weapon to kill civilians. Given Santamato’s occupation and his increasingly volatile rhetoric, authorities feared he might attempt a similar attack in Italy. This fear led to his arrest and the imposition of strict surveillance measures.
As a result of his extremist activities and the connections he had fostered, Santamato was placed under stringent restrictions. For two years, he was banned from using smartphones or any other means of communication. He was prohibited from associating with individuals under surveillance or those with criminal records. Additionally, he was required to undergo a de-radicalization program overseen by a social mediator from the Department of Law at Aldo Moro University of Bari. Any violation of these terms would result in a hefty fine of €5,000. Italian authorities also took the precaution of confiscating his passport and travel documents, further limiting his movement and reducing the risk of him joining international jihadist efforts. His wife and three minor children were relocated by the state for their protection.