BOLOGNA, Italy (MNTV) — In Bologna, Italy, hundreds gathered in protest after the death of a Moroccan man during a police arrest, leading to widespread outrage and renewed examination of law enforcement practices in the country.
The deceased, 42-year-old Moroccan entrepreneur Abderrahim Fakir, died after officers restrained him in response to reports of his aggressive behavior.
Local video footage, which has circulated widely online, shows Fakir face down with two officers holding him down as he cries out, “Help, help, that’s enough,” before going silent.
The video appears to show officers securing his ankles before assessing his condition, sparking public outrage and drawing parallels to the 2020 death of George Floyd in the United States.
Protesters gathered near the site of the incident, many kneeling with raised fists, a gesture linked to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Additional demonstrations, supported by Bologna’s mayor and major trade unions, took place the following day, calling for justice and accountability.
Reports indicate that police used pepper spray and continued to restrain Fakir while trying to handcuff him. His family has accused the officers of excessive force, with one brother stating that Fakir pleaded for help before he died.
Investigators in Bologna have opened a probe into the incident, employing a new legal procedure and requesting body camera footage from the responding officers to clarify the circumstances of the death.
Opposition leaders have criticized Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government for fostering an environment that supports aggressive policing and are demanding a thorough investigation of the case.
Conversely, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and others within the ruling coalition defended the officers, voicing their support for police actions.
Critics have highlighted that this incident has reignited worries about police conduct and the treatment of migrants and ethnic minorities in Italy, calling for an independent investigation to establish accountability for Fakir’s death.
