RABAT/ Anadolu

Moroccan authorities have requested their Italian counterparts to expedite a thorough investigation into the death of a Moroccan citizen in Bologna, Italy.

This was stated in a statement by the Moroccan Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

Abdelrahim Faqir (42) died on Sunday while two police officers were attempting to restrain him in the Pilastro neighborhood of Bologna, after police were called following reports of him behaving "aggressively" and damaging a vehicle.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates said in the statement that "the Moroccan authorities have requested the competent Italian authorities to expedite a comprehensive investigation to uncover all circumstances surrounding this death, and to provide the necessary clarifications regarding this tragedy."

The ministry stressed the need to determine responsibilities and ensure full implementation of the required legal procedures and measures.

It added: "The Moroccan authorities will continue to closely monitor this matter, as part of their constant concern to protect the interests of Moroccan citizens residing abroad," noting that they have instructed the relevant embassy and consulate general to follow up on developments in the case.

Viral video clips showed Faqir pinned to the ground with his hands behind his back, while he asked for help and said he could not breathe, before losing consciousness and ceasing to move.

Faqir's sister, in statements to media outlets, demanded justice for her family, expressing fear that what happened could be repeated with other individuals.

The Public Prosecutor's Office in Bologna opened an investigation into the circumstances and causes of death, covering the actions of all participants in the intervention stages, including two police officers and four members of the medical teams who were on site.

The prosecution said the investigation will include the circulated recordings and footage from police body cameras, as well as forensic medical examinations, with the aim of fully reconstructing the sequence of events.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a post on the American platform X on Tuesday that what happened in Bologna is "unacceptable," referring to the incident.

She stressed the need to determine any responsibilities with the utmost rigor and to seek the truth without prejudice or leniency toward any party.

At the same time, Meloni condemned the acts of violence that accompanied protests in Bologna, saying that attacking police officers and endangering citizens does not serve the search for truth but rather aims at confrontation.

Italian MP Ilaria Cucchi criticized Meloni's government, considering that its policies have contributed to creating a climate that fuels racism and violence, while politicians from the ruling coalition defended the principle of the presumption of innocence for police officers pending the outcome of investigations.

Bologna witnessed protests following Faqir's death, parts of which turned into clashes between demonstrators and police forces, who used tear gas and water cannons, according to local media.