Italian Police Union Defends Officers After Killing of Abderrahim Fakir

Rabat- The Italian Police Workers’ Union (Sindacato Italiano Unitario Lavoratori Polizia, SIULP) has defended the officers involved in the police intervention that resulted in the killing of Moroccan migrant Abderrahim Fakir in Bologna, even as the case continues to fuel public outrage, protests, and calls for accountability in Italy and Morocco. 

SIULP’s Bologna branch said it would join criminal proceedings as a civil party against individuals accused of participating in the unrest, which it said left dozens of police officers injured and caused extensive damage to public and private property.

The union announced it would provide free legal representation for injured officers through Bologna lawyer Francesca Chiarini, seeking compensation for physical injuries, moral damages, and financial losses. It said the initiative aims to protect police officers and oppose what it described as organized violence against law enforcement.

Read also: Morocco Closely Monitoring Fakir’s Investigation Case, Consul Visits Victim’s Family

In a statement dated July 21, the Bologna branch condemned the violent incidents that took place during demonstrations held after Fakir’s killing. Protesters threw projectiles, used explosive devices, and attacked police officers, the union said, adding that these actions had no connection to the legitimate right to protest or demand accountability.

Pasquale Palma, SIULP’s regional secretary in Bologna, expressed condolences to Fakir’s family while defending the police.

“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of Abderrahim Fakir,” Palma said, adding that he had full confidence in the Italian judiciary. He nevertheless argued that the climate surrounding the demonstrations, encouraged in part by local public figures, had fueled hostility toward police and contributed to violence and destruction.

At the national level, SIULP also defended the officers involved in the intervention. The union said police responded to emergency calls from residents reporting that a man in a highly agitated state was attacking passersby and damaging property.

SIULP Secretary-General Felice Romano said the loss of Fakir’s life was a tragedy for his family and society, but maintained that the officers acted lawfully and proportionately. He said they used pepper spray rather than Tasers despite carrying the devices, describing the operation as a complex intervention carried out in the presence of emergency medical personnel and civilians who assisted officers in restraining Fakir.

‘Trial by public opinion’

Romano also criticized politicians and public figures whom he accused of exploiting the case for political purposes, warning against what he described as attempts to inflame tensions or conduct a “trial by public opinion.” He said the officers had cooperated fully with judicial authorities and called for investigators to examine the entire sequence of events rather than relying on short videos circulating on social media.

The killing of Abderrahim Fakir during the police intervention has sparked widespread protests across Italy and generated intense political and media debate over police use of force.

Videos of the incident prompted calls for accountability. Moroccan authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, have called for a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances of Fakir’s death and determine responsibility.