Bologna, July 26, 2026 – Kneeling in front of the place where Abderrahim Fakir died. With a raised fist and closed eyes. In a minute of silence to pay homage to the broken life of the 42-year-old Moroccan, who died during a police stop in Bologna. A week after his disappearance, at Pilastro a “popular march” invades the streets of the district. This time, as had happened on the very evening of his death, without violence. Without clashes, unrest, or guerrilla warfare. A procession of at least two thousand people shouting, composedly, “justice and truth for Fakir”. There are no armored vehicles or riot police officers escorting the procession, which was monitored exclusively by some Digos agents and Carabinieri from the Information Unit. Behind them, there are at least two thousand people, who once again took to the streets in protest against the disappearance of the 42-year-old Moroccan.
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Banners, signs and flags
In the front row, a group of youngsters, residents of the neighborhood, held a banner taut at the start of the demonstration. In their hands, some signs against the police: “Abolish it”, “cops out of our neighborhoods”, “murderous and racist police”. Phrases that go against the militarization of various city areas, denounced multiple times in recent days by collectives, activists, and committee residents. The procession then set off, with signs immortalizing the stop, comparing it to that of George Floyd, for a “popular march” around Mitilini Park. Near the construction site of MuBa, the Museum of Children, which was highly contested in past months, a sheet appeared on the library walls: “We are not cockroaches”, with an image of the 42-year-old’s restraint during which he died.
“Via Svevo should become Via Fakir”
From this anger, a proposal arises: “We ask the mayor to change the street where our brother was assassinated, in a state murder, and to name it with a plaque for Fakir”, says a man at the microphone, after receiving a call from the 42-year-old’s wife. From Morocco, the woman asked for “truth” regarding her husband’s death and thanked those present for the mobilization.
Criticism is not lacking
There is no shortage of criticism of the local and national administration: “Let’s stop the authoritarian drift,” reads a banner, while through the megaphone, shouts of a “criminal pact” between Piantedosi and Lepore are heard. A dedicated sign for him: “Mayor, who wanted to militarize the neighborhoods?”. In the streets of Pilastro, in addition to residents, there are activists from the antagonist galaxy and grassroots unions, with Potere al Popolo. One of the last interventions is clear towards those who “assassinated Fakir. They deserve the worst. The State will never make them pay, we will have to make them pay”.
The fundraiser for legal expenses
Meanwhile, Abderrahim’s family, not present at the initiative, announced that with the open fundraiser for legal expenses, “eight thousand euros with over 300 supporters” have been raised and exceeded. On the investigation front, tomorrow (July 27) the Public Prosecutor’s expert team will meet for analyses on the 42-year-old’s body.
New frame with Fakir’s head wound
Meanwhile, new images emerge extracted from the bodycam of one of the two officers. A still image, specifically, would demonstrate, as argued by lawyer Gabriele Bordoni who defends the two police officers, that Fakir inflicted the wound behind his head himself, “rubbing his skull against the asphalt while biting a police officer’s leg. He crawled on the ground and then scratched himself”.
