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Rabat – Italy’s Interior Ministry has opened an inquiry into how a public gathering demanding truth and justice for Abderrahim Fakir was organized, shifting political attention to procedural questions even as outrage over the Moroccan man’s killing at the hands of police continues to dominate public debate.
The review will examine whether Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore properly coordinated the July 21 gathering with local police headquarters and the prefecture before announcing the event. According to Italian media reports, authorities were informed of the demonstration through news reports and a municipal press release rather than through formal written procedures.
The inquiry comes just days after police’s killing of 43-year-old Moroccan national Abderrahim Fakir, whose final moments were captured in a disturbing video that spread rapidly across Italy and Morocco.
The footage shows two police officers restraining Fakir face down on the ground as he repeatedly cries out “help” and “enough.” Paramedics were also present at the scene, standing still as Fakir fought for his life. The video sparked widespread outrage and renewed scrutiny of police conduct in Italy, especially against migrants, with many demanding accountability and an independent investigation.
Prosecutors in Bologna have opened an investigation into the killing to determine what happened and whether police officers and emergency medical personnel bear criminal responsibility. Bologna’s chief prosecutor is directly handling the case.
The Interior Ministry’s review, however, focuses on whether the protest itself complied with administrative procedures. Officials are examining whether the location in Piazza Nettuno, near the offices of the prefecture and police headquarters, had been formally agreed upon with security authorities before the mayor invited residents to gather.
The decision to investigate the organization of the protest has fueled criticism from some observers, who argue that procedural questions risk overshadowing the far more significant issue, which is the circumstances surrounding Fakir’s final moments and the actions of those involved in violently restraining him and taking his life.
The protest was originally called by Lepore as a moment of solidarity with Fakir’s family and the Pilastro community, urging residents to unite in demanding “truth and justice.”
Later that night, however, demonstrations escalated into clashes between some protesters and police. Right-wing parties have called for Lepore’s resignation, arguing the gathering contributed to the unrest.
Despite the growing political controversy, public attention remains centered on Fakir. Demonstrators across Italy continue to demand accountability, insisting that debates over permits and procedures should not distract from the investigation into the circumstances of the Moroccan man’s killing at the hands of police or the calls from his family for truth and justice.
