(Strasbourg) “Rocco Chinnici fulfilled his duty as a magistrate with an uncommon capacity for vision and innovation; with his regulatory, methodological, investigative and operational insights, he ushered in a new era, an irreversible path that has shaped the anti-Mafia system. That is why his sacrifice, like that of other magistrates, law enforcement officers, and representatives of institutions, has not been in vain”. These are the words of Caterina Chinnici (pictured above), daughter of magistrate Rocco Chinnici killed by the Mafia, herself a magistrate and now a Member of the European Parliament, who is hosting the photographic exhibition “Broken Roses and the Chinnici Method in Europe” at the headquarters of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The exhibition retraces the human and professional stories of 28 Italian magistrates who died in the line of duty as they were fighting against the Mafia and terrorism. Among them (to name but a few) are: Chinnici himself, Falcone and Borsellino, Francesca Morvillo, Rosario Livatino, Emilio Alessandrini, Giangiacomo Ciaccio Montalto, Guido Galli, Vittorio Occorsio, Pietro Scaglione, Antonio Scopelliti.

Many people took part in the opening of the exhibition, including several “baby mayors” from different Italian cities, accompanied by mayors and teachers. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola took the floor, recalling Rocco Chinnici’s “transparent personality”. She explained that “organised crime has not disappeared at all, it has adapted to the new times”, “it is a European challenge”, and that is why it must be fought by all institutions (politics, the judiciary, the police), but also in civil society and in schools through educational and awareness-raising activities.