Sicilian shops get an offer they can’t refuse – they’re banning all mafia-related junk from souvenir shops, because the mayor says it ‘humiliates the community’

Sicily has sidelined the mafia, at least as far as souvenir shops are concerned.

The island has banned the sale of mafia paraphernalia in a bid to combat negative stereotypes.

Authorities allege that items depicting Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone from The Godfather and other trinkets trivializing the violent history of the Sicilian Mafia are tarnishing the island’s reputation.

In Agrigento, a major tourist attraction known for its ancient Greek temples, Mayor Francesco Miccichè has ordered shops to stop selling such items.

He said these products “demean the community, which has been busy for years spreading a culture of legality.”

The ban applies to all articles that praise or refer to the mafia or organized crime. Police will inspect shops and fine those who do not comply.

Authorities allege that items depicting Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone from The Godfather (pictured right) and other trinkets that trivialize the violent history of the Sicilian mafia are tarnishing the island’s reputation

In Agrigento, a major tourist destination known for its ancient Greek temples, mayor Francesco Miccichè has ordered shops to stop selling such merchandise. Pictured: The ancient Greek Temple of Concordia in Agrigento

The repression extends beyond Agrigento.

Sicily’s regional government has ordered airports on the island, including those in Palermo, Catania and Trapani, to remove mafia memorabilia from their shops.

Alessandro Aricò, councillor for transport and infrastructure, said there was a need to “maintain a dignified image, stripped of the usual negative stereotypes”, especially at access points such as airports.

This is not the first attempt to restrict the sale of such items.

Last year, the regional government banned the sale of mafia trinkets on ferries to and from Sicily.

The Sicilian Mafia, or Cosa Nostra, has long been associated with organized crime, with its origins dating back to the 19th century.