Rabat – Thousands of people marched through Bologna’s Pilastro neighborhood on Sunday, one week after the killing of 42-year-old Moroccan national Abderrahim Fakir during a violent police intervention, calling for “truth and justice” as investigations into the case continue.
Organizers said around 2,000 people joined the peaceful demonstration, which began near the intersection of Via Italo Svevo and Via Alfredo Panzini, where Fakir was killed on July 19. The march passed through several streets in the Pilastro district before returning to the site of his killing.
At the front of the procession, young participants carried a large banner reading, “We are all Fakir.” Throughout the march, demonstrators chanted slogans including “Justice for Fakir,” “Stop institutional racism,” and “We are all anti-fascists.” Some also criticized the Italian government, accusing authorities of neglecting local communities.
Participants carried Italian, Moroccan, Palestinian, and anti-racism flags. At the same time, signs displayed messages such as “I can’t breathe,” referencing the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in the US. During a minute of silence before the march began, protesters sat or knelt on the ground with raised fists in a symbolic tribute.
Several organizations took part in the demonstration, including labor unions, Palestinian solidarity groups, local neighborhood committees, and left-wing activist movements. Police reportedly maintained a low-profile presence, monitoring the event from a distance to avoid tensions.
During the march, Fakir’s wife addressed participants by phone from Morocco. She thanked those attending the demonstration and called for the truth about her husband’s killing to be established.
Earlier in the day, Fakir’s family announced the launch of an official fundraising campaign to cover legal, forensic, and scientific expenses related to the judicial investigation. The initiative is being led by his niece, Yossra Fakir, through the Italian crowdfunding platform Produzioni dal Basso. It has raised € 9,200 (MAD 98,000) so far.
Yossra Fakir said the investigation is only beginning and acknowledged that the search for answers “may be long.” She also appealed for respect for her uncle’s memory, saying false information circulating about him had increased the family’s suffering.
“The family wants to honor his memory with independent legal and technical assistance,” she said, adding that the fundraising effort is not intended to assign blame but to ensure the family can fully participate in the legal process while awaiting the findings of the judicial authorities.
The protest took place as public debate over the case continues in Italy, alongside discussions about security following the decision to assign police protection to Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore after he reportedly received threats linked to recent demonstrations.
