Key facts
- Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old small business owner born in Morocco, died after being forcibly restrained by police in Bologna, Italy.
- An initial post-mortem indicated lung compression as a potential cause of death.
- The incident has led to protests and renewed scrutiny of Italy's security bill, which provides greater legal protection to public officials.
- Prosecutors are investigating the officers and healthcare workers involved, but they will not be formally registered as suspects unless the use of restraint is deemed unjustified.
- Critics, including the Fakir family's lawyer, argue the new legal shield risks creating impunity and hindering investigations.
- Fakir's family is seeking justice and has expressed concern over the dehumanizing portrayal of him by some politicians and media outlets.
The death of Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan-born man, while being restrained by police in Bologna, Italy, has ignited widespread outrage and protests. Video footage showed Fakir being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by officers, repeatedly pleading for help before he stopped moving and was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is under investigation, with an initial post-mortem suggesting lung compression.
The incident has placed a new security bill, enacted by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, under intense scrutiny. This bill includes a legal shield that offers public officials greater protection from prosecution if they can demonstrate they acted in self-defence or within the line of duty. Fakir's case is the first in which this shield has been invoked, meaning the two officers and four healthcare workers involved will not be formally registered as criminal suspects unless authorities deem the use of restraint unjustified.
Critics, including the Fakir family's lawyer Fabio Anselmo, have condemned the legal shield, arguing it grants excessive power to the police and risks creating impunity. Anselmo stated it could potentially "sabotage" the investigation. The legal teams for the officers and healthcare workers maintain they followed official protocols and medical guidelines, respectively.
Fakir, who had lived in Italy since childhood, was described by friends and family as a kind and well-liked individual. However, some far-right politicians and media outlets have reportedly focused on his past drug convictions, portraying him negatively. His sister, Khadija, expressed deep grief and a desire for truth and justice, lamenting the dehumanizing rhetoric surrounding her brother's death.
The Pilastro neighborhood, where Fakir died, has previously been a site of political attention, notably involving Matteo Salvini. Residents have expressed fear and a sense of powerlessness in the face of police authority, especially after Fakir's death. Professor Cecilia Sottilotta noted that the case illustrates how political rhetoric, particularly concerning migration and security, translates into real-world actions and policies, suggesting that such issues will likely remain divisive, especially with upcoming elections.