Why Abderrahim Fakir's death reignited Italy's police accountability debate
The death of 42-year-old Moroccan-born Abderrahim Fakir after a police restraint in Bologna has sparked protests and renewed calls for police accountability in Italy.
In Bologna, Italy, a six-minute-56-second video captured the final moments of Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan-born man who had lived in the city for over 30 years. The footage shows two police officers and a civilian restraining Fakir face-down on the ground. He repeatedly screams for help while four Red Cross volunteers stand nearby. After more than four minutes, Fakir falls silent. His ankles are secured with a black plastic zip tie. Only after the restraint ends do paramedics realize Fakir has lost consciousness.
Fabio Anselmo, the lawyer for Fakir's family, noted that the European Court of Human Rights had already condemned Italy in a similar case in January 2026, concerning Riccardo Magherini, who died in Florence in 2014 after being restrained face-down. The court found Italy violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Police said they responded to reports of "a person behaving violently" and that emergency services were called immediately. Fakir died after "restraint procedures" were carried out in the presence of medical personnel. Prosecutors ordered an autopsy, and Bologna's local health authority opened an internal investigation.
The video spread rapidly on social media, prompting a vigil where Fakir's sister said: "My brother wasn't an animal. He was a father, a worker, a good man. We don't want revenge. We want justice."
Barbara Spinelli, a lawyer who represented Fakir on immigration matters, said he had severe financial difficulties. He started a small removals business, but after clients failed to pay, he was forced to lay off employees and fell into debt. Spinelli added that Fakir feared expulsion from Italy amid tougher migration debates, though there were no legal grounds for such action.
On July 20, Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore called for a solidarity rally. Thousands gathered, but the peaceful protest turned violent when part of the crowd marched toward the Prefecture and police headquarters. Clashes broke out: demonstrators threw bottles and fireworks, smashed windows, and set two cars ablaze. Police used batons, water cannons, and tear gas.
Several protesters accused police of excessive force. Jacopo, who asked to be identified only by his first name, said officers tackled him from behind and beat him with batons, resulting in bruises and an eye injury. A freelance journalist for L’Espresso said an officer struck him repeatedly with a baton while he retreated, shouting, "I'm a journalist!" Police reported 64 officers injured and extensive damage to Bologna's historic center.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence, stating that Fakir's death must be fully established and that nothing justifies violence against law enforcement. Opposition parties called on Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to report to parliament and release body-camera footage.
The investigation is the first under the new Article 45-bis procedure, part of the Meloni government's Security Decree effective February 2026. Under this rule, police officers are not immediately registered as suspects when alleged offenses occur during duty. Anselmo called the reform "a legal monstrosity."
