Italy's New Police Shield Law Invoked in Fatal Restraint Case

Abderrahim Fakir, 42, died handcuffed face-down during a July 19, 2026 police arrest in Bologna, sparking protests across Italy. Six people are under investigation. Prosecutors applied Italy's new "scudo" law, which shields officers from prosecution for on-duty actions. The case is an early test of whether the statute obstructs accountability for in-custody deaths.