Woman Who Accused Moroccan Man of Dog-Related Attack Now Under Investigation

The case made headlines across Italy. A woman with facial injuries accused a Moroccan man of hitting her because of her dog, which was allegedly considered impure for religious reasons. Politicians seized on her account to denounce a religiously motivated assault. But on Wednesday, October 14, the daily La Nuova Ferrara reported a twist: Susi Rimessi, 59, is now under investigation by the Ferrara prosecutor’s office for assault and causing injury to Hamza Hdya, the Moroccan man she had publicly accused.

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It all began on August 16 in Portomaggiore, a town in northern Italy. Susi Rimessi said she was attacked while walking her dog outside the home of a Moroccan family. According to her account, the animal had upset the residents because it was considered “impure” in Islam. An argument allegedly broke out before she was struck on the head with an object. Injured, she posted photographs of her bloodied face on social media.

The case quickly took on national significance. Mauro Malaguti, a lawmaker from Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia party, voiced his support for the woman and appealed to the government. He even organized a group walk through the streets of Portomaggiore, inviting residents to bring their dogs. The stated aim was to protest what was then presented as a religiously motivated assault.

But Hamza Hdya, who has lived in Italy since 2005 and is an Italian citizen, tells a very different story. He and his brother Yassine say the woman had started filming their home and family, including a minor. When he asked her to stop, she allegedly replied: “I’m in my country, I do what I want,” before hurling insults.

Videos cast doubt on the original account

Several recordings made by residents and people close to the Moroccan man have since been brought into the discussion. They show confrontations between Susi Rimessi and the family, including after the initial altercation. Hamza acknowledges taking her phone during the argument, but denies hitting her with an object.

According to his account, the woman entered the family’s property and slapped him eight times. She also allegedly attacked his 62-year-old mother, pulling off her veil. Medical documents cited by Estense.com say Hamza was given ten days to recover and his mother thirteen. Susi Rimessi, for her part, says she received four stitches and was prescribed twenty days of rest.

The Carabinieri found no object matching the weapon described by the woman. Hamza maintains that she was injured when they both fell during their altercation. Represented by lawyer Fabio Anselmo, he filed a complaint. The Ferrara prosecutor’s office is now examining allegations of assault and unlawful coercion against Susi Rimessi. She has also reportedly faced other complaints over incidents after the argument, including repeated insults.

The Italian press has also revealed another detail from Hamza’s life. On July 25, three weeks before the altercation, he took part in rescuing two children at risk of drowning in the Logonovo canal, at Lido di Spina. With help from another man, he managed to bring them to safety before nearly drowning himself. Estense.com confirmed the incident with emergency medical services and the coast guard.

On Bladi.net : A Moroccan man saves a child from drowning in Italy and ends up in the emergency room

The judicial investigation must now establish responsibility for the August 16 altercation. According to La Nuova Ferrara, it was not yet possible to confirm whether proceedings had also been launched against Hamza following the initial complaint. Estense.com says no official notice that he was under investigation had been served on him at the time of publication.