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Bologna Mayor Matteo Lepore continues to show unwavering support for Abderrahim Fakir’s family despite recently receiving online threats for standing with the family of the Moroccan national who was killed following a violent police intervention on July 19.
Italian news agency ANSA quoted Lepore as saying it is important to continue standing by Fakir’s family to demand truth, justice, and clarity about what happened.
“As our Archbishop Zuppi also said, this is especially important for the police. Those who attended the solidarity gathering alongside the family did not come to oppose law enforcement, but to support the family. Both I and the family condemned the clashes that took place,” the mayor said.
His comments come as he received threats online for calling for protests to condemn the killing of Fakir. The case dates back to July 19, when two police officers used force in pinning him to the ground face down, causing him to suffocate.
Read also: New Protest in Bologna Draws Thousands Seeking Justice for Abderrahim Fakir
An autopsy and investigation are ongoing to determine the cause of death, but initial reports suggest Fakir was suffocated as officers restrained him violently for five minutes, despite him pleading for help.
The killing of Fakir took place in the presence of paramedics, who failed to intervene to stop his violent restraint by the two police officers.
Reports also questioned the pool of blood found beneath Fakir’s head, with the victim’s family lawyers confirming that the slain man had blood in his lungs.
The Bologna mayor emphasized that he and Fakir’s family have never called for protests out of revenge, but to show solidarity and demand that the truth be made clear.
This comes as government officials have been condemning the protests, with the country opening an investigation to hold those who called for the demonstrations responsible — in a clear attempt to shift focus from Fakir’s case to the protests.
In one of the recent developments published by Ansa, the Bologna public prosecutor’s office summoned the relatives of Fakir.
According to reports, prosecutors will question Fakir’s brother, sister, and niece this afternoon as persons informed of the facts.
Several local residents who recorded videos of the police stop on the day of Fakir’s death are also expected to appear before prosecutors.
