“Man of honor”, “great man”, “saint immediately”. These are not comments addressed to a benefactor, but messages left by some users under a post on Facebook that proudly shows a tribute to the grave by Raffaele Cutolo, one of the most feared and bloodthirsty bosses in the history of the Camorra. Founder of the Nuova Camorra Organizzata (NCO), Cutolo was the protagonist of a ferocious war with the clans of the Nuova Famiglia (NF), led by Carmine Alfieri, who sowed death and terror in the streets of Napoli and the province.
Words of praise for a criminal figure like that of Cutolo have provoked indignant reactions, highlighting how the culture of illegality is still rooted in some sectors of society. “The word 'honor' is completely distorted – commented Francesco Emilio Borrelli, MP for the Green-Left Alliance –. Normally, it represents high moral values, but in the Camorra and Mafia culture in general, it is synonymous with silence and respect for a code of silence and violence.”
Borrelli, who received several reports about the post in question, presented a bill to introduce the crime of mafia apology. "Praising bosses and criminals is not only damaging to the image of society, but it deeply undermines the concept of legality, transmitting negative values that are perpetuated from generation to generation. Even if one does not directly become a member of the mafia, in contexts devoid of culture and the attention of the State, it is easy to conform to behaviors typical of criminal organizations, with devastating consequences for the social fabric."
Article published on 26 September 2024 - 17:53
