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Rabat – Italy’s ambassador to Morocco met the wife of Moroccan national Abdelrahim Fakir on Friday to offer condolences on behalf of the Italian government following his killing at the hands of police in the city of Bologna.
According to a statement from the Italian Embassy in Rabat, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, requested the meeting.
Italian Ambassador to Morocco Pasquale Salzano and the Italian Consul General in Casablanca Francesco Capecchi met with Fakir’s wife to express the Italian government’s “most sincere condolences” and convey the “deep closeness” of Italian institutions to the family during what the embassy described as a painful time.
The ambassador and consul general also reaffirmed that the embassy and the consulate remain fully available to provide the family with any assistance they may need in the coming stages.
Fakir, a 43-year-old Moroccan man, was killed during a violent police intervention in Bologna last Sunday. His killing sparked widespread outrage in both Italy and Morocco after a video of the incident circulated online.
The footage shows two police officers pinning Fakir face down on the ground while his hands were restrained behind his back. During the violent arrest, he can be heard repeatedly pleading for help as he struggled to breathe before eventually becoming unresponsive.
The video prompted public criticism and renewed concerns about police use of force in Italy. Fakir’s family lawyer Fabio Anselmo said the EU Human Rights Court has already condemned Italy in similar police brutality cases.
Read also: Initial CT Scan Suggests Asphyxiation, Airway Obstruction in Killing of Abderrahim Fakir
Italian authorities have since opened an investigation into the incident. Two police officers involved in the arrest are under investigation, along with four paramedics who were present at the scene and stood still as Fakir fought for his life. Prosecutors are examining whether the emergency responders failed to provide timely medical assistance after Fakir lost consciousness.
The case has triggered several demonstrations in Bologna, where protesters have demanded truth and justice for Fakir and called for full accountability for everyone involved. Human rights activists and members of the Moroccan community in Italy have also urged authorities to conduct a transparent investigation.
Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is closely monitoring the investigation through its diplomatic and consular services in Italy. It added that Moroccan officials remain in direct contact with Italian authorities to follow the judicial proceedings, while the Consulate General in Bologna has been instructed to support the victim’s family, including assisting with the repatriation of his body.
The ministry also reiterated its call for a swift and thorough investigation to establish all the circumstances surrounding Fakir’s killing.
