Morocco has demanded that Italian authorities explain the death of one of its nationals during an arrest in Bologna, an incident that triggered major protests in the Italian city, according to africanews.com.
Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan who had lived in Italy since age five, died after being tackled to the ground by police in Bologna. The death prompted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to call for ‘the truth right to the end’ on Tuesday, after the incident sparked demonstrations.
Rabat urged Italian authorities to ‘shed full light’ on the incident and called for ‘responsibility to be established and that the full application of the required legal measures and procedures be guaranteed’, the foreign ministry said late Tuesday. It added that it was following the case ‘very closely’ and ‘with concern’.
On Monday, prosecutors opened an inquiry into Fakir’s death. He died after being restrained by police chest-first on the ground for several minutes. In a video taken by a resident, Fakir is seen calling for help while pressed to the ground by two policemen and watched by other first responders.
The two policemen and the four first responders are under investigation by the prosecutor.
A demonstration with several thousand people took place on Monday in Bologna, according to images from local media. Clashes broke out with law enforcement, leaving 64 officers injured, according to the police headquarters. News channel Sky TG24 reported that eleven protesters were also injured.
Morocco ‘demanded from the relevant Italian authorities to proceed promptly with a comprehensive investigation to shed full light on the circumstances surrounding this death’, the foreign ministry said.
Meloni earlier said: ‘Regarding the death of Abderrahim Fakir, it is imperative that any potential causes are thoroughly investigated with the utmost rigour. The truth must be pursued without prejudice or leniency for anyone,’ she added in a post in which she also condemned the violence during the protest in Bologna over his death.