Castellana Sicula removes plaque mislabeling slain officer Boris Giuliano as politician

The municipality of Castellana Sicula in the province of Palermo has removed a commemorative plaque dedicated to Boris Giuliano, the former head of the Palermo Mobile Squad who was assassinated by the Mafia in 1979. The removal follows a protest by his daughter, Selima Giorgia Giuliano, a cultural heritage superintendent, after the plaque incorrectly identified her father as a ‘politician.’

Selima Giorgia Giuliano stated that the error was not a mere inaccuracy but a matter of truth and respect, emphasizing that her father was a ‘servant of the State’ and a police officer. She noted that memory must not be approximate and that the plaque serves to educate future generations about his identity and sacrifice.

The Mayor of Castellana Sicula, Francesco Calderaro, issued a formal apology, describing the error as a ‘mass distraction’ that was offensive to anti-Mafia culture and history. A municipal worker removed the ceramic plaque shortly after the error was brought to light, and the Mayor has invited the Giuliano family to attend the unveiling of a corrected plaque.