Diplomats, lawyers, artists and rights groups pile pressure on Italy over Fakir death

Pressure on Italy to fully investigate the death of Moroccan businessman Abderrahim Fakir continued to mount on Wednesday as Morocco’s leading human rights organization formally appealed to Rome through Italy’s ambassador, joining the Moroccan government, lawyers, unions, business groups and rights activists in demanding accountability.

The Moroccan Organization of Human Rights (OMDH) sent a letter to Italy’s ambassador to Morocco, Pasquale Salzano, calling for an independent and impartial investigation into Abderrahim Fakir’s death during a police intervention in Bologna.

The move comes as reactions continue to grow over the death of the Moroccan businessman, with officials, associations, and public figures calling for truth, justice, and accountability.

The organization said that the right to life is a fundamental human right and that any death occurring during a police operation, especially where there are concerns over excessive use of force, requires an effective investigation to establish the facts and determine responsibility.

The OMDH called on Italian authorities to clarify all details of the case, including whether Fakir’s nationality or migrant status affected the way he was treated during the police intervention.

It also called for the necessary legal and judicial guarantees to ensure the truth is established, including the victim’s family’s right to participate in the investigation and access its proceedings and findings, as per Article 35 of the Minnesota Protocol.

Morocco’s Association for Human Rights (AMDH) also condemned what it described as a “heinous crime” against a Moroccan citizen and called on Italian judicial authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into his death, urging that all those responsible be held accountable.

In a statement, the AMDH said Fakir’s death constituted a serious violation of the right to life and one of the gravest infringements of fundamental human rights under international law, citing videos circulating online that it said showed a violent police intervention.

It called for the ongoing judicial investigation into ‘the suspected manslaughter case’ to hold all those involved accountable, including the police officers and the emergency medical team present at the scene, which it said failed to save the victim.

Morocco’s Trade Union Network on Migration (RSMMAROC) also condemned the death of the 42-year-old Moroccan migrant, calling for an independent and transparent judicial investigation to establish the full circumstances of the incident and determine responsibility.

The network said the incident would constitute a serious violation of the right to life and human dignity, arguing that the case has once again highlighted concerns over the excessive use of force against migrants and criticized what it described as Europe’s security-first approach to migration at the expense of human rights.

Morocco’s Lawyers Association also filed a complaint with prosecutors in Bologna over Fakir’s death, saying the move aimed to help establish the truth behind the incident.

The association said the complaint was filed under Italian law, which allows anyone aware of a suspected crime to report it to judicial authorities.

It called for an independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of Fakir’s death, in line with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which requires states to conduct an effective investigation into deaths linked to police intervention.

Morocco’s National Association for Entrepreneurial Development and Young Entrepreneurs called for an independent, transparent, and fair investigation into the circumstances of Fakir’s death.

It stressed that human dignity and the right to life and justice must be protected under all circumstances, calling on civil and human rights groups to stand with the family in their call for truth and justice.

Protests also erupted in Bologna after Fakir’s death, with demonstrators clashing with police. Firecrackers were thrown near police buildings, while officers responded with tear gas and water cannons, The Guardian reported.
Some protesters staged a sit-in in a city square, holding a photograph of Fakir.

The case has also prompted calls from human rights groups and Italy’s opposition parties for answers and a full investigation into the death.

Fakir’s death also sparked widespread reactions on social media, with Moroccan artists including Saadia Ladib and Essaqr Aml reacting to the Italian police intervention and calling for truth, justice, and dignity.

Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also joined the growing reactions, saying it is following the case with concern and has asked the relevant Italian authorities to swiftly launch a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Fakir’s death.
It called for full clarification of the incident and for all necessary legal measures to be taken to ensure accountability.

The ministry said Moroccan authorities would continue to closely monitor the case through the country’s embassy and consulate in Italy.

Morocco’s ambassador to Rome, Youssef Balla, called for full clarity over Fakir’s death, stressing the need for truth, justice, and respect for human dignity. He urged Moroccans in Italy to remain calm, avoid provocations, and express their grief with dignity while fully respecting public order.

Balla said only the Italian judiciary can determine whether the police intervention complied with the law and whether any omissions or unlawful acts were committed.

Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into Fakir’s death after he was restrained by police in Bologna, where online footage showed him crying out for help and saying he could not breathe before he stopped moving.

According to Italian media, prosecutors are initially looking into allegations that Fakir did not receive the necessary medical assistance after the police intervention. Citing Fakir’s lawyer, Il Resto del Carlino said videos show that no one intervened to help him after officers moved away, with the possibility that he was still alive at that moment.

The newspaper reported that the inquiry will examine why no doctors or nurses were sent to the scene after the emergency call.
The case involves six people, including two police officers and four emergency responders, and focuses on the decision to send a volunteer team without medical staff after police reported a person experiencing a psychological crisis.

It also said that investigators have collected additional footage recorded by witnesses, surveillance camera recordings from the area, and a body camera video from one of the officers, adding that an autopsy on Fakir’s body is expected to take place on Friday.
Investigators are also looking into the distance from which pepper spray was used and its possible impact on Fakir.

The lawyer for the two police officers said the restraint was carried out according to procedure and denied that officers used their knees to put pressure on his body.

Meanwhile, Italian outlet La Repubblica reported that prosecutors in Bologna are focusing on the procedures followed by the emergency service (118) and police protocols for restraining people in a highly agitated state.

It added that investigators are also looking for more videos from local residents to better understand what happened.