Cop, judge, journalist, activist, prosecutor, volunteer: women challenge the mafia in Puglia, Italy | We

A notable group of women are challenging the power structures of Sacra Corona Unita, Italy’s fourth largest organized crime group operating in southern Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot.

This page requires Javascript.

Javascript is required for you to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAmw6C6 πŸ˜€ 2 =@@< 2E D@>6 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD)4@>^2CE:4=6^:E2=J\8f\>27:2\@C82?:K65 \4C:>6\53`h66452e4a33hd`c2c` f233_e5f2a_QmE96D6 H@>6?k^2mik^Am

k9amr2C=2 sFC2?E6k^9h

kAmsFC2?E6 9625D @7 E96 {6446 @77:46 @7 E96 s:C6K:@?6 x?G6DE:82E:G2 p?E:\|27:2( xE2=J’D :?E6C\286 ?4J 2?E:\>27:2 A@=:46 7@C46( 3FE 96C C:D6 πŸ˜• E96 C2?6E H:E9 @3DE24=6D 7C@> E96 DE2CE)k^ Am

kAm(96? D96 E@=5 96C 9:89 D49@@= {2E:? E62496C E92E D96 H2?E65 E@ 364@>6 2 A@=:46 @77:46C( E96 C6DA@?D6 H2D EJA:42= @7 E96 >249@ 6E9@D @7 D@FE96C? xE2=J 2E E96 E:>6i Β« w@H GF=82C) Β»k^Am

kAm%96 C646AE:@? H2D?’E >F49 36EE6C πŸ˜• sFC2?E6’D 7:CDE ;@3( 2D 2 4@A πŸ˜• 2 D>2== >@F?E2:? E@H? πŸ˜• D@FE96C? r2=23C:2 E92E H2D 5 @>:?2E65 3J E96 ‘?5C2?896E2 >27:2) %96 =@42=D πŸ˜• %2FC:2?@G2 H6C6 9@DE:=6 E@ 2== =2H 6?7@C46>6?E @77:46CD 2?5 H6C6 ?@E 27C2:5 E@ D9@H : E)k^Am

kAmu@C 6I2>A=6nk^Am

kAm”(96? E96J E@C4965 >J 42C(” D96 D2JD >2EE6C\@7\724E=J)k^Am

kAm}@H 324< 9@>6( sFC2?E6 πŸ˜€ 32EE=:?8 E96 =@42= $24C2 r@C@?2 &?:E2 >27:2( 2?5 9:EE: ?8 :ED =6256CD H96C6 :E 9FCED >@DEi 4@?7:D42E:?8 E96:C @DE6?E2E:@FD AC@A6CE:6D( 72C>D 2?5 7C@?E 4@ >A2?:6D FD65 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD)4@>^86?6C2=\?6HD\a6`f6h_ed42`cg`72d3b73`462`3`564Qm=2F?56C 5CF8 EC277:4< :?8 AC@7:ED) k^2mk^Am

kAm”(6 92G6 =62C?65 E92E E9:D πŸ˜€ C62==J E96 >@DE :?4:D:G6 E@@=( 3642FD6 E2<:?8 2DD6ED 2H2J 7C@> >27:@ D : >62?D 5:D6>A@H6C:?8 E96>(” D96 D2JD)k^Am

k9C^m

k9h|2C:=ΓΉ |2DEC@8:@G2??:k^9h

kAm|2DEC@8:@G2??: πŸ˜€ 2? :?G6DE:82E:G6 ;@FC?2=:DE 2?5 ;@FC?2=:D> AC@76DD@C 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 q2C:) $96 92D C6A@ CE65 6IE6?D:G6=J@? E96:?7:=EC2E:@? @7 E96 $24C2 r@C@?2 &?:E2 >27:2 πŸ˜• =@42= !F8=:2 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 AF3=:4 25>:?:DEC2E:@?D 7@C 96C 3=@8 β€œx= %244@ 5’xE2=:2)”k^Am

kAmw6C C6A@CED D@ 2?86C65 E96 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?E πŸ˜• 96C9@>6E@H ? E92E 2E @?6 A@:?E( E96 E@H? H2D A=2DE6C65 H:E9 8:2?EA@DE6CD 2EE24<:?8 96C H@C<( @?6 @7 E96> 56A: 4E:?8 96C FA E@ 96C ?64< :? 2 9@=6) p7E6C G2C:@FD E9C62ED( D96 H2D AFE F?56C A@=:46 6D4@CE 2?5 6G6?EF2==J 564:565 E@ >@G6 96C 72>:=J @FE @7 E@H?)k^Am

kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 A2EC:2C492= 4F=EFC6 @7 E96 $24C2 r@C@?2 &?:E2( Β« 2 H@>2? D9@F=5?’E 92G6 2 G @:46(” 2== E96 >@C6:7 D96 FD6D:EE@ HC:E6 23@FE E96 >27:2( D96 D2:5)k^Am

kAmxD D96 27C2:5nk^Am

kAmβ€œx 5@?’E 36=:6G6 E9@D6 H9@ D2J E96J 2C6?’E 27C2:5) xE πŸ˜€ ?@E ECF6(” D96 D2JD) β€œr@FC286 πŸ˜€ 8@:?8 7@CH2C5:? DA:E6 @7 762C)”k^Am

k9C^m

k9h#@D2??2 !:4@4@k^9h

kAm!:4@4@ G@=F?E66CD 7@C E96 2?E:\>27:2 8C@FA {:36C2( 24E:G:D> E92E H2D :?DA:C65 3J 2 49 : =59@@5 6G6?E)k^Am

kAm(96? D96 H2D πŸ˜• 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@= ?62C {6446( E9C66 3@>3D 6IA=@565 πŸ˜• 96C D49@@= @?6 ?:89E) {@42 = DE@C6 @H?6CD 925 4C62E65 E96 7:CDE 2?E:\C24<6E:?8 2DD@4:2E:@ :? @42= >@3DE6CD( 2?5 E96 3@>3D H6C6 2 4=62C H2C?:?8 7C@> E96 $24C2 r@C@?2 &?:E2 E92E E96:C 49:=5C6? H6C6 2E C: D<)k^Am

kAmqFE:?DE625 @7,324<:?8 5@H?( E96 A2C6?ED 5:5 D@>6E9:?8 C6>2C<23=6 E92E DE2J65 H:E9 !:4@4@ 7@ C6G6C)k^Am

kAm”%96 ?6IE >@C?:?8 @FC A2C6?ED β€” 2== @7 E96> β€” 244@>A2?:65 FD E@ D49@@=(” D96 C642==D) ” X? E96 H9@=6 E@H?( ?@ @?6 C6>2:?65 D:=6?E( 2?5< E9:D 92D 2=H2JD >2C<65 >6i % 96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 ?@E EFC?:?8 2H2J( @7 36:?8 @? E96 D:56 @7 36:?8 24E:G6 4:E:K6?D )” k ^ Am

kAm!:4@4@ ?@HG@=F?E66CD H:E9 {:36C2( 2 ?2E:@?2= ?6EH@C< @7 2?E:\>27:2 2DD@4: 2E:@?D E92E( 2>@?8 @E96C E9:?8D( E2<6D =682= A@DD6DD:@? @7 4@?7:D42E65 >27:2 2DD6ED 2?5 EFC?D E96> :?E@ D@4:2==J FD67F= AC@;64ED 2?5 AC@5F4ED)k^Am

kAmpE 2 {:36C2 DE@C6 πŸ˜• |6D28?6( E96 !F8=:2 E@H? H96C6 E96 $24C2 r@C@?2 &?:E2 H2D 7@F?565( !:4@4@ D6==DH:?6 > 256 7C@> 8C2A6D 8C@H? :4E:>D)k^Am

k9C^m

k9h|2C:2 uC2?46D42 |2C:2?@k^9h

kAm|2C:2?@ πŸ˜€ E96 AC6=:>:?2CJ :?G6DE:82E:@?D ;F586 2E E96 %C:3F?2= @7 {6446) pE E96 286 @7 ac( D96 3642>6 E96 J@F?86DE H@>2? ;F586 πŸ˜• xE2=J) }@H dd( D96 =:G6D F?56C 2 ​​​​ac\9@FC A@=:46 6D4@CE )k ^Am

kAmx? yF=J a_ab( D96 :DDF65 2CC6DE H2CC2?ED 7@C aa >6>36CD @7 E96 {2>6?5@=2 4=2? @7 E96 $24C2 r@C@?2 &?: E2 @C82?:K65 4C:>6 8C@FA( @? 244FD2E:@?D @7 >27:2 2DD@4:2E:@?( 5CF8 EC277:4<:?8 2?5 @E96C 492C86D )k^Am

kAm%96?( πŸ˜• ~4E@36C( D96 3682? C646:G:?8 =6EE6CD HC:EE6? πŸ˜• 3=@@5 H:E9 562E9 E9C62ED 2?5 D2E2?:4 >6DD286D) ~ ? u63) `( 2 3=@@5J 8@2E 9625 D<6H6C65 H:E9 2 3FE496C'D

kAm!@=:46 25565 2 3F==6E\AC@@7 42C E@ 96C D64FC:EJ 2AA2C2EFD)k^Am

kAm$96 DE:== 92D 96C 52J ​​;@3 2D 2 ;F586 3FE πŸ˜• 96C 5@H ? E:>6( |2C:2?@ HC:E6D 3@@27:2:? !F8=:2)k^Am

kAmβ€œ%96 >27:2 92D D@4:2= 4@?D6?DFD(” D96 D2JD) β€œx7 H6 H2?EE@ 5:D2DD@4:2E6 E96 A96?@>6?@? @7 @C82?:K65 4C:>6( :E πŸ˜€ ?@E 6?@F89 E@ H@C< :? 2 4@FCEC@@>) (6 92G6 E@ DE2CE H:E9 E96 A6 @A=6)”k^Am

k9C^m

k9amr2C>6 ? #F88:6C@k^9h

kAm#F88:6C@ πŸ˜€ 2 {6446 AC@D64FE@C) 96 $ =625D 2 AC@D64FE:@? E62>:? E96 42D6 @7 Β« ~A6C2E:@? (@=7” 282 :?DE E96 aa 5676?52?ED 7C@> E96 {2>6?5@=2 4=2? @7 E96 $24C2 r@C@?2 &?:E2)k ^Am

kAm$96 92D ?@E C6=6?E65 πŸ˜• 96C 677@CED 7@==@H:?8 E9C62ED @? 96C =:76 3FE ?@H 2AA62CD πŸ˜• E96 {6446 AC:D@? 4@FCEC@@> 244@>A2?:65 3J 2 E9C66\>2? A@=:46 6D4@CE)k^Am

kAm$9@CE=J 27E6C yF586 |2C:2?@ D6?E @FE 96C 2CC6DE H2CC2?ED( #F88:6C@ H6?EE@ E96 {6446 AC:D@? E@ BF6DE:@? @? 6 @7 E96 5676?52?ED H9@ 925 D:8?2=65 9:D 56D:C6 E@ 4@==23@C2E6)k^Am

kAmx?DE625( !2?4C2K:@ r2CC:?@ 925 49:D6=65 2 2==3=24< A=2DE:4 328 :? 9:D C64EF>( A=2??:? 8 E@ Β« 4FE 96C ;F8F=2C Β» 5FC:?8 E96 >66E:?8( 244@C5:?8 E@ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED 7@ ==@H:?8 E96 :?4:56?E)k^Am

kAmr2CC:?@ E@=5 :?G6DE:82E@CD 96 925 2D<65 E@ FD6 E96 32E9C@@> D@ 96 4@F=5 C6EC:6G6 E96 >2<6D9:7E<6) qFE 2 DFDA:4:@FD A@=:46 @77:46C D62C4965 9:> H96? 96 42>6 @FE 2?5 E@@< :E 2H2J)k^Am

kAmΒ« x7 x 925 366 ? 2D =F4:5 E92E 52J 2D x 2> ?@H(” r2CC:?@ D2:5 =2E6C( β€œr2C>6? #F88:6C@ H@F=5 2=C625J 36 9:DE@CJ )”k^Am

kAm#F88:6C@ 564=:?65 E@ 36 :?E6CG:6H65( D2J:?8 96C H@C< DA62

k9C^m

k9h$23C:?2 |2EC2?86=@k^9h

kAmp 52F89E6C @7 2 >27:2 G:4E:>( |2EC2?86=@ πŸ˜€ ?@H 2 {:36C2 24E:G:DE) 96 $ H2D `d H96? 96C >@E96C( #6?2E2 u@?E6( H2D 2DD2DD:?2E65 2D D96 42>6 9@>6 7C@> 2 4:EJ 4@F?4:= >66E:?8 πŸ˜• E96 !F8=:2 E@H? @7 }2C5Γ²)k^Am

kAmu@?E6( 2 4:EJ 4@F?4:==@C 7@C 4F=EFC6( 925 364@>6 2 G@42= 2?E:\>27:2 DA@<6DH@ >2? 2D D96 EC:65 E@ AC@E64E `(___ 964E2C6D @7 A2C<=2?5 2=@?8 E96 !F8=:2 4@2DE=:?6 7C@> :==682 = 56G6=@A>6?E)k^Am

kAm|@3DE6CD 7:C65 E9C66 3F==6ED 2?5 <:==65 96C( 3FE 96C =6824J =:G6D @?i %92?< C6>2:?D 2 AC@E64E65 2C62 2?5 u@?E6’D 52F89E6C( |2EC2?86=@( 92D E2<6? FA 96C 42FD6)k^Am

kAmβ€œ%96D6 A=246D H:== 2=H2JD 36 πŸ˜• 52?86C(” |2EC2?86=@ D2:5 7C@> 2 =@@<@FE A@:?E 23@G6 E96 D62 :? E96 !@CE@ $6=G288:@ }2EFC6 #6D6CG6 )k^Am

kAmβ€œp?5 D@ E96 32EE=6D @7 E9@D6 H9@ D965 3=@@5 7@C E96D6 4:G:= DECF88=6D >FDE H2=< @? @FC =68D( >FDE 36 A6CA6EF2E65 3J @FC 6G6CJ52J 4@FC286(” D96 D2:5)k^Am