The battle against mafia organisations is the responsibility of all those who cherish the Italian Republic, said President Sergio Mattarella. The president made the statement marking the Day of Remembrance and Commitment in memory of the innocent victims of the Mafia today.
“Having been born in civil society and evolved thanks to the values it carries, the ‘National Day of Memory and Commitment in Remembrance of the Victims of the Mafia’ is a significant anniversary for the national community,” stated Mattarella.
He continued, “a day that underlines the commitment to liberate populations and territories from mafia organisations (and) to overcome the indifference and resignation that always benefit criminal groups”.
“When we defend the dignity of being free citizens, when we rebel against violence and injustice, when we do not look the other way when faced with abuse, we contribute to the fight against mafia organisations,” asserted the head of state. He noted that honouring the names of innocent victims “is an act that reunites us with those who have paid with their lives for mafia inhumanity and a sign of closeness to their families”.
Moreover, Mattarella underscored that this day represents a “robust, collective manifestation of the yearning for justice that fuels the vitality of a democracy.”
Anti-mafia fight is duty of those who love the Republic
He called upon institutions to fulfil their duty in combatting criminal organisations at every level, while emphasising the indispensable role of citizens and social forces in cultivating and disseminating a culture of legality and freedom.
Mattarella stressed that the fight against them is a shared obligation for all who hold love for the Republic and aspire to shape a brighter future for it. Italy has a parliamentary Antimafia Commission tasked with investigating the “phenomenon of the [Sicilian] Mafia.”
Furthermore, he reiterated the Day serves as a poignant reminder that combating mafia organisations is not just a duty but a moral imperative for those committed to safeguarding the integrity and prosperity of Italy.
“Mafia organisations are a heavy burden for Italy in the way they have insinuated themselves into every illegal activity of criminal trafficking. The Day reminds us that the fight against mafia organisations is the task and duty of all those who love the Republic and want to give it a better future,” said Matterella.
