Moroccan Man’s Death Sparks Outrage in Bologna: Meloni Calls for The Full Truth
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is attempting to contain the controversy sparked by the death of a Moroccan national during a police arrest operation in Bologna.
Meloni called for « the full truth » to be established regarding the death of Moroccan national Abdelrahim Faqir during a police arrest operation on Sunday in the northern Italian city of Bologna, an incident that has triggered widespread anger and condemnation.
In a post published on the platform X, Meloni said that « it is essential to determine, with the utmost precision, any potential responsibility concerning the death of Abdelrahim Faqir. It is equally necessary to establish the full truth, without prejudice or leniency toward anyone ».
Meloni also condemned the acts of violence that took place during a demonstration in Bologna on Monday evening.
The city’s public prosecutor’s office opened an investigation on Monday into the man’s death after he was held face down on the ground for several minutes, with his hands and feet restrained and his face pressed against the asphalt. The man was 42 years old and had lived in Italy since the age of five.
The investigation includes the two police officers who carried out the arrest, as well as four emergency medical personnel who were present at the scene.
The Bologna prosecutor, meanwhile, ordered an autopsy of the body and also requested an analysis of footage recorded by the two cameras attached to the officers’ bodies during the arrest operation.
A local resident had published footage showing Abdelrahim repeatedly shouting « help », while the two officers held him on the ground in the presence of several emergency responders.
The police, for their part, said they intervened after receiving reports from several residents who described a man in a highly agitated state.
Following the incident, local media reported that thousands of people took to the streets on Monday evening to participate in a demonstration in central Bologna.
The demonstration was marred by clashes with security forces, leaving at least 64 police officers injured, according to the police.
Sky TG24 also reported that 11 protesters had been injured.
New calls for demonstrations were issued on Tuesday in other major Italian cities, including Milan, Florence, and Naples.
Morocco’s ambassador to Italy, Youssef Balla, meanwhile, called on the Moroccan community « not to be drawn into provocations or attempts to exploit this painful tragedy ».
In a statement published by Morocco’s official news agency, he expressed his « regret over certain public statements and positions that have prejudged the findings of the investigation », while at the same time reaffirming his « full respect for the Italian judicial institutions ».
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi also called for the investigation’s findings to be awaited, telling the newspaper Il Messaggero that « no one is above the law ».
The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for its part, stated that « the Moroccan authorities have asked the competent Italian authorities to expedite a comprehensive investigation in order to shed full light on all the circumstances surrounding this death (…) », stressing « the need to determine responsibility and ensure the full implementation of the required legal procedures and measures ».
The ministry further affirmed that « the Moroccan authorities will continue to closely monitor this matter, as part of their ongoing commitment to protecting the interests of Moroccan citizens residing abroad ».
