Death of a Moroccan Man During His Arrest in Italy Sparks Calls for Investigation

SadaNews - The death of a Moroccan citizen during an attempted arrest by police in Bologna, northern Italy, has raised demands for clarifying the circumstances of the incident and determining responsibilities, amidst political controversy and protests in the city.

Abdel Rahim Fakir (42 years old) died on Sunday while two police officers were trying to restrain him in the Bolognina neighborhood of Bologna, after police were called following reports of his aggressive behavior and damage to a vehicle.

Videos circulating online showed Fakir pinned to the ground with his hands behind his back, pleading for help and stating that he could not breathe, before losing consciousness and becoming unresponsive.

Moroccan activists have taken to social media platforms to call for a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the death and to hold those responsible accountable.

Fakir's sister, in statements to the media, demanded justice for her family, expressing her fear of a recurrence of such incidents involving others.

The public prosecutor's office in Bologna has opened an investigation into the circumstances and causes of the death, which includes the actions of all participants involved in the intervention, including the two police officers and four health personnel who were on site.

The prosecutor's office stated that the investigation will include the circulated recordings and footage from police body cameras, as well as forensic medical examinations, with the aim of rebuilding the complete sequence of events.

For his part, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that disclosing the details of the incident and determining responsibilities is a matter for the judiciary.

Tajani criticized parties within the Italian opposition, considering that they are exploiting the incident to incite hatred towards state institutions and law enforcement agencies, before the investigations are completed.

For her part, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that what happened in Bologna is "unacceptable", emphasizing the need to determine any responsibilities with the utmost rigor and to seek the truth without preconceived judgments or leniency towards any party.

At the same time, Meloni condemned the violent acts that accompanied the protests in Bologna, stating that attacking police officers and endangering citizens does not serve the search for truth, but aims at confrontation.

Italian Deputy Ilaria Cucchi criticized Meloni's government, considering that its policies contributed to creating an atmosphere that fosters racism and violence, while politicians from the ruling coalition defended the presumption of innocence for police officers until the investigations are concluded.

Bologna witnessed protests following Fakir's death, some parts of which turned into clashes between protesters and police forces, who used tear gas and water cannons, according to Italian media.