Moroccan Man Killed by Italian Police Sparks Family Calls for Body Return

Abderrahim Fakir, a 42‑year‑old Moroccan who had lived in Italy since childhood, died on 19 July in Bologna after being restrained face‑down by two police officers. A by‑stander video shows him held on the pavement for several minutes before becoming unresponsive. Italian prosecutors opened an investigation the following day, and an autopsy indicated violent mechanical asphyxia caused by dorsal compression.

Fakir’s family arrived in Casablanca on 6 August demanding the return of his body and a thorough inquiry. Their lawyer, Fabio Anselmo, described the video as “unbearable” and called for accountability. Protests erupted in Bologna, with clashes between demonstrators and police. In Morocco, a funeral was held without the body, attended by his Moroccan wife Myriam, who asked why there was blood under his head, and his Italian wife Barbara, who also seeks truth and justice.