The death of 42-year-old Abderrahim Fakir in Bologna, Italy, has ignited a national debate over police accountability. Captured on video, the July 19 incident shows officers restraining Fakir, who repeatedly called for help before losing consciousness, prompting calls for justice and investigations by local authorities.
The Final Moments of Abderrahim Fakir
On Sunday, July 19, a six-minute and 56-second video captured the final moments of Abderrahim Fakir, a Moroccan-born man who had resided in Bologna for over three decades. The footage, recorded from a nearby apartment balcony shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time, shows two police officers and a civilian restraining Fakir on the ground.
Throughout the encounter, Fakir is heard screaming for help while four Italian Red Cross volunteers wait nearby with an ambulance. According to reporting from Al Jazeera, Fakir remained restrained for more than four minutes before falling silent. His ankles were secured with a black plastic zip tie; it was only after the restraint concluded that paramedics realized he had lost consciousness.
Legal Challenges and the European Court Precedent
The incident has drawn immediate legal scrutiny, with family lawyer Fabio Anselmo leading the calls for accountability. During a news conference held in the Italian Senate on July 21, Anselmo—who famously represented the family of Stefano Cucchi, a man who died in police custody in 2009—urged the public to examine the video evidence.
I ask you to listen very carefully to that video. When the officers stand up, Fakir may still be alive. Yet no one attempts to help him. No one removes the restraints. Fabio Anselmo, lawyer for the Fakir family, via Al Jazeera
Anselmo noted that he has spent nearly 30 years handling similar cases. In that case, the court condemned Italy for violating Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, finding that authorities failed to prove that keeping Magherini in a face-down restraint position was absolutely necessary
.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigations
Bologna police stated that officers were dispatched following reports of a person behaving violently
. Authorities maintain that emergency services were summoned immediately and that Fakir died following restraint procedures
conducted in the presence of medical personnel. Following the death, prosecutors ordered a post-mortem examination, and the local health authority initiated an internal investigation.
Financial Strain and Migration Fears
Those close to Fakir describe his final months as a period of significant distress. Barbara Spinelli, who had represented Fakir on immigration matters for years, explained that he faced mounting debt after his small removals and logistics business struggled to secure payments from clients.
Spinelli also highlighted Fakir’s anxiety regarding Italy’s current migration climate, specifically the implementation of the European Union’s Pact on Migration and Asylum. Though Spinelli stated there were no legal grounds for his expulsion, she noted that the fear never left him
.
Protests and Civil Unrest in Bologna
The aftermath of the death triggered widespread public outcry. Following a spontaneous vigil where Fakir’s sister demanded justice, Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore called for a solidarity rally on July 20 in Piazza Maggiore. Thousands of citizens, including students and trade unionists, attended.
The demonstration, however, turned violent as segments of the crowd marched toward the local police headquarters and the Prefecture. According to the reporting, demonstrators threw bottles and fireworks, damaged property, and set two cars on fire. Police responded with baton charges, tear gas, and water cannons. Several protesters subsequently accused the police of employing excessive force during the dispersal of the crowd.
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