Main content

The businessman who defied the Italian Mafia

In 1991, Palermo businessman Libero Grassi was killed in Sicily for publicly refusing to pay protection money to the Mafia.

In 1991, Palermo businessman Libero Grassi published an open letter in Sicily’s main newspaper denouncing the Mafia for constantly demanding extortion payments. Grassi was hailed as a hero, but his public refusal to pay was intolerable to the Mafia and a few months later he was executed in person by one of Cosa Nostra’s top bosses. Libero Grassi’s defiance is credited with inspiring a new grass-roots movement among businesses in Sicily that stands up to the Mafia. Simon Watts talks to his daughter, Alice Grassi.

PHOTO TO COME

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Fri 6 Sep 2019 12:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 6 Sep 2019 07:50GMT
  • Fri 6 Sep 2019 12:50GMT

Podcast