Muhammad Siddique

Muhammad Siddique was born in Swabi, Pakistan, on March 25, 1978. He came to Italy in June 2002 and obtained his residence permit in 2012, moving to Olbia. He was involved in Sultan Wali Khan’s businesses, working as a street vendor. He was part of the Awami National Party and the stem of ISIS and a photo of Bin Laden found on his Facebook profile linked him to religious fundamentalism. This association was further corroborated by his brother, who led a madrasa in Pakistan attended by Taliban members.
He was arrested in April 2015, subjected to precautionary custody order, and accused of being part of a terrorist network close to al-Qaeda and other jihadist organisations, operating between Olbia and Rome under the direction of Sultan Wali Khan.
Muhammad Siddique was charged with terrorist association according to Article 270 bis, and Law 4 of March 16, 2006, no. 146. Court documents indicated he was working under Sultan Wali Khan’s directives to transport funds collected in northern Sardinia and maintained contacts with the main organisation in Pakistan when it came to the planning and logistics.
The prosecution claimed that Siddique was significantly involved in fundraising activities linked to Islamist causes. For example, in July 2009, he helped raise €30,000-40,000 to rebuild his brothers’ madrasa associated with the Taliban, coordinating with Ali Mushtaq and Sher Khan. Siddique sent 128,000 rupees to the madrasa and arranged for €40,000 to be delivered via courier. In September 2009, Siddique, alongside Yahia Khan Ridi, Imitias and Sultan Wali Khan, attempted another transfer of funds to Pakistan, seeking advice on how to handle the funds. Siddique was also implicated in a money transfer case in September 2011, where €50,000 was sent from Italy to Pakistan. Although the prosecution suspected this transfer was for financing terrorism, there was no conclusive evidence, and it was suggested that the money might have been related to Sultan Wali Khan’s legitimate business activities. Moreover, once arrived in Pakistan, it had not been possible to prove that the money went to fund a terrorist organisation because all traces of the funds were lost.
Siddique had also significant links to the Tehreek-e-Taliban and other extremist groups. In August 2009, he was informed about the health of a Taliban commander and encouraged to support the group financially. By June 2010, Siddique and Ali Zubair were in contact with TeT representatives, receiving praise from a TeT leader.
Muhammad Siddique was also allegedly involved in planning a terrorist attack in Italy during the spring of 2010. He was linked to a plot where a Pakistani individual was brought to Italy for a potential martyrdom operation, which was ultimately thwarted due to police intervention. Siddique was implicated in discussions about the attack, including buying a backpack in Rome that was intended to be used as a bomb.
In April 2019, the Assize Court of Sassari advised proceeding separately for Muhammad Siddique. The Court of Assizes returned the case to the prosecutor to formulate new charges. Although there was evidence related to alleged activities of financing and connecting with terrorist groups, Siddique was not part of the terrorist organisation for which he was initially being tried. In the retrial, the prosecutor did not change the charges against him, and in March 2022, the Assize Court of Sassari declared that there was no case to answer, meaning there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the case. However, in March 2024, the Court of Cassation dismissed the previous sentences, and a new trial began in September 2024 on the same charge of terrorist participation.