Why Abderrahim Fakir’s death reignited Italy’s police accountability debate

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that the death of Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan-born man who had lived in Bologna for more than 30 years, has triggered protests and renewed debate in Italy over police accountability. According to the report, a video filmed shortly after 12:30pm local time on Sunday shows two police officers and a civilian holding Fakir on the ground while Red Cross volunteers stand nearby. Fakir can be heard calling for help before becoming silent; prosecutors have ordered a post-mortem, and Bologna’s local health authority has opened an internal inquiry.

Police said officers had been responding to reports of a person acting violently and that emergency services were called immediately. Fabio Anselmo, the lawyer for Fakir’s family, challenged the handling of the restraint at a July 21 news conference hosted by Senator Ilaria Cucchi, whose brother Stefano died in police custody in 2009. Al Jazeera notes that Anselmo also cited a recent European Court of Human Rights ruling involving another restraint-related death in Italy.

The case quickly moved into the streets. A solidarity rally called by Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore drew thousands, but later clashes broke out near government and police buildings. Al Jazeera reported damage in the historic centre, police use of water cannon, tear gas and baton charges, and police claims that 64 officers were injured. Some protesters and a journalist alleged excessive force by officers.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the unrest while saying Fakir’s death must be fully established. Opposition parties have asked Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to brief parliament and release any officer body-camera footage. The investigation is also politically significant because it is expected to be the first under Italy’s new Article 45-bis procedure, a reform critics say could weaken scrutiny of police conduct.