20-Year-Old Moroccan-Italian Becomes Ravenna Deputy Mayor, Faces Online Abuse
Born in Italy to Moroccan parents, Hiba Alif became Ravenna’s deputy mayor at just 20. In an interview published on October 21, she describes the attacks she faced after her appointment and explains why her Italian citizenship did not shield her from prejudice.
Hiba Alif knew her arrival at Ravenna City Hall in June 2025 would prompt reactions. But the viciousness of the comments posted on social media hurt her. Her name, Moroccan roots, young age and the fact that she is a woman all fueled attacks against the new city official.
“Judge me on my work, not my age, gender or origins,” she said in an interview with Italian outlet Ravenna e Dintorni. Now 21, she acknowledges that the reactions hurt her and that you never really get used to such attacks.
Born in Ravenna to Moroccan parents, Hiba Alif has held Italian citizenship since birth, as her parents had obtained it before her. She questions the tendency to describe the children of immigrants as members of the second or even third generation, even when they were born in the country and hold its citizenship.
For her, an Italian passport is not enough to make judgments about appearance or origins disappear. Instead, she advocates for more opportunities for residents to meet and overcome mistrust.
At 21, she welcomes new Italian citizens
Appointed by Mayor Alessandro Barattoni, Hiba Alif is responsible for youth policy, housing, peace and the 2030 Agenda. Among other duties, she takes part in ceremonies in Ravenna for young people born in Italy to foreign parents who obtain citizenship when they turn 18.
On October 8, she welcomed sixteen new Italian citizens alongside the mayor. Each received a copy of the Italian Constitution as well as the Italian and European flags, according to an official municipal statement.
At these gatherings, she talks with the young people and their families about their plans. She recalls meeting a boy passionate about football who, after obtaining citizenship, now dreams of playing for the Italian national team.
Hiba Alif rejects the idea that her political role should be reduced to her Moroccan roots. She says she did not enter politics solely to represent people from immigrant backgrounds. She sees her family history as an asset, but stresses that her work is for all Ravenna residents.
