When a human kills another human being he is worse then an animal.
Moti Irani, India

With women moving more and more into the front line, it was only a matter of time before they themselves took up the guns Gerry D

Mafia is the Sicilian version of the organised crime. The term is spread all around the world. But there is a deep difference between Mafia Camorra and Ndrangheta. It's right to give the territorial distinction but it's also right to say that they have different form of business. When poor Sicilian people moved in USA in the early past century they started their local "mafia" called Cosa Nostra. This organization had and probably still has a strong relationship with Sicilian mafia friends. On the other hand is very important to highlight that such relationship between the two crime organizations was used from America to get into Italy during the Nazi domination.
Riccardo, Italy/UK

Women have always had a major influence in matriarchal societies such as Italy, Ireland, and Spain, not to mention in Latin American countries, all supposed 'Christian' countries. With women moving more and more into the front line, it was only a matter of time before they themselves took up the guns - whilst this may incident was a shock, surely it will not change anything. I agree with Juliet on the North - South divide!!
Gerry D, UK

I guess women take up "causes worth dying for" for the same reason as men, belief, stupidity, money, boredom etc.
Jema, Sweden

I had heard of someone known as the "Ice Lady" some years earlier from the Naples region. I had heard she was or is a "capa" or female capo for one the local crime families. It seems now that also the soldiers are "femminale" or "le donne". It is starting to sound like a tragic Shakespearean play where revenge and bloodlust are rivalling that of Hamlet or even that of the Capulets and Montagues. The sheer hatred has shattered the so-called codes of the Mafiosi and will ultimately be the death of them because it is the "femminale" who give life to the very families themselves.
Donald Burroughs, Canada

Hatred of people is on the rise, and it is the root of this hatred that must be understood so that there can be change G C Wall

No one can claim the title of innocent. The adjective today is reserved only for infants and toddlers, but description disappears too, as soon as they begin to think that they know what they are doing. There is a considerable amount of hatred that is hidden, that lays reserved beneath an appearance of civility and charm. But hatred of people is on the rise, and it is the root of this hatred that must be understood so that there can be change. The problem cannot be assigned to that of a "mafia" problem, because the problem is systemic.
G C Wall, United States

You are mixing up two different issues: women "dying" for a cause, and "killing" for a cause. The former is the case of suicide bombers in Israel and Moscow, or Indian widows burning themselves. The cause is desperateness and inability to see a better option. The latter case - killing - is the one of guerrillas in Colombia, sniper women in Chechnya and mafia ladies in Italy. They are not up to dying. Quite on contrary, it's the way to survive and to protect their people. Both are sufficient reasons for being violent, no matter that one is a man or a woman. It's just an issue of taboos, as you said, and they will all be broken sooner or later.
Oxana Smirnova, Switzerland

Mafia is not an Italian phenomena but a highly globalised group of gangs. To relate mafia specifically to Italy is incorrect an in-cohesive since many mafia bosses are American-Italians 1st and 2nd generation. What is happening in Italy is merely a family feud.
Giuseppe Graziano, UK

Well, I guess it has begun. Everything is evolving and people are getting scared. It was said from the beginning that Women will be the end of us. But what I would really like to bring to your attention is the fact that the times are changing and the way organized crimes are taking it's direction and will change the future no matter what.
Robert Gay, USA

I have always found the catch phrase 'Code of Honour' laughable when associated with even the traditional Italian Mafia A.M. Hatfield

I visited Lauro and Quindici in March this year. From the pictures I saw on the television, the shootings took place about a five minute walk from the home of the family I was staying with. I was very surprised to hear that Lauro is full of feuding families and mafia. It all seemed so sleepy and peaceful when I visited. How surprising!
Beth Millington, England

I have always found the catch phrase "Code of Honour" laughable when associated with even the traditional Italian Mafia. The families normally associated with the traditional Mafia were largely brutish peasants without vision, a sense of morality or common decency. They were criminals of the worst kind, ruthless and violent to the power of ten. The brutish Mafia women are demonstrating that there is no taboo which the Mafia won't break. They always have and always will do whatever they want to do until, like other psychotics and criminals, they are stopped.
A.M. Hatfield, Canada

It's logical that women will take control over the Mafia families. Most of the men are either dead or in jail, so who else is going to take over and run the family's businesses? The ladies. And for some obscure mafia code of honour, men can't kill women, so they send women to do the job.
Kiyoshi Kohatsu, Canada

As mentioned, the north south divide, the mafia play an important social responsibility in southern Italy where people are unable to receive financial help from government institutes as easily as the north. The north sees the south as a different country! The Mafia do provide a safe living for people, creating jobs and an acceptable standard of living which without their help would be impossible.
Carlo, UK

Hate, like cancer, mutates with time Benjamin

Hate, like cancer, mutates with time. It will never be resolved, it shall only destroy. There are no victories only victims. Please stop. Before it is too late.
Benjamin, USA

It is sheer madness! It is the Middle East in Italy! The fighting in Ireland! War with one another, everywhere in the world! Nothing softens us! If the history of Nazi Germany has not moved us, the very judgment of God Almighty, will only cause us to raise guns towards the sky. All of this is human depravity: behavioural madness!
William Scott, Canada

I guess that there is almost no taboo that will not be broken Andrew

The question should really be - what makes anybody, whether male or female, willing to kill and die?
Roman Lajciak, Bratislava, Slovakia

I guess that there is almost no taboo that will not be broken - ever. Mankind and even the mafia are out to break the rules. But it is very disgusting.
Andrew Hoffman, Germany

Tito had an effective solution to one tribal feud. The killer was buried alive with his victim.
Bill Driedger, Canada

The mafia must be crushed by all means possible.
M Jacks, UK

The Mafia is nothing more than institutionalised terrorism Sam

There always has and always will be family feuds. What has history taught us?
Peters La, USA

It's very sad to note that even in a developed country like Italy, it's citizens are made to live under fire because two families don't like each other. How gross is this!?
Bhaskar, India

The Mafia is nothing more than institutionalised terrorism and a business to boot and women have as much right to be involved as men. It is natural therefore that they should pay the price of being part of Cosa Nostra at the going rate. I think therefore that the very premise of shock or surprise at women's involvement in the Mafia presupposes a lack of understanding of the female psyche.
Sam, Spain

Why shouldn't women be involved? They must surely feel as passionately about the various issues that men are fighting - and dying - for. I don't understand how in the 21st Century people can still be shocked at the participation of women in violent acts.
Keith, Scotland

We all balk at violence, but is it any surprise that women are just as brutal as men Tom

The motives for killing by women are essentially the same as by men. After all, equality knows no boundaries.
Max Broth, England

Let all who would kill do so, the quicker to bring about their demise, and free us with healthy peaceful minds to live without them.
Vito Corleone, USA

Do women not hate as men do? Doesn't a lioness fight to defend her cubs? We all balk at violence, but is it any surprise that women are just as brutal as men? Death has always been co-ed.
Tom, Canada

"Women's liberation and equal rights with men has permeated 'COSA NOSTRA'"
Rudolph Furtado, India

Send your comments now, and interact with our programme guests on Sunday 3 November at 2000 GMT from this website or on digital television.

Pam Giddy is joined by "Mafia Women" producer Juliet Dwek and international journalist Yvonne Ridley to examine how and why some women have become seduced by violence for a cause.

What makes women take up a cause worth dying for? - from FARC rebels in Colombia to the latest Chechen rebels siege in Moscow - women are heavily involved. Why?

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