Italian mafia syndicates have
long been interested in infiltrating the country's Masonic
lodges, according to a report by Rosy Bindi, the president of
parliament's anti-mafia commission.
"The Sicilian Cosa Nostra and the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta have
constantly, for time immemorial up to today, cultivated and
nourished accentuated interest in the Masonry," the report read.
"On the side of the Masonic associations, there was been a
sort of submissiveness to the mafia".
The report also said there were cases in which the Masonry
helped organised crime syndicates to subvert justice.
"Solidarity between brothers makes possible dialogue between
mafia figures and those who administer justice, it legitimizes
requests to intervene to change the course of trials and imposes
silence", the report read.
Stefano Bisi, the grand master of Grande Oriente d'Italia,
Italy's leading Masonic lodge, blasted the report.
"We are seriously worried," said Bisi.
"Someone in Italy wants to go back in time and effectively
reintroduce the Fascist, illiberal laws, above all, those
against the Masonry.
"It could be the start of a dangerous return to the past, as
Antonio Gramsci denounced.
"Democracy and free thinking are in grave danger".
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