Italy's New Police Immunity Law Faces First Test in Fatal Restraint Death

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" (shield) law, which protects officers from prosecution for on-duty actions. The case is an early test of whether the statute blocks accountability for in-custody deaths.