LONDON: Animal rights activists and the general public two months ago greeted with enthusiasm the news that Catalonia, a wealthy northern Spanish province, had voted for a ban on bullfighting in the region. After an intense and lively campaign, lawmakers agreed that the region no longer wanted this type of bloody spectacle in the area. At the time, traditionalists said that the ban was politically motivated as Catalonia seeks independence from Spain. Banning bullfighting would be a way to differentiate itself from the rest of Spain, the origin of bullfighting. In a move that seems to confirm what detractors said, Catalonia just passed a law legalizing the Flaming Bull Festival (or ‘correbous' in the local language), when fireworks or flaming wax is attached to the bull's horn. The animals are set loose in the streets where they chase after people. Catalan MP Paco Sancho says what was discussed in the debate was that they opposed any activity that resulted in the death of an animal. He says they will establish safety regulations for such festivals, including measures to protect the bulls themselves. But others beg to disagree. According to a report on UK TV network ITV, animal rights activists are outraged that this new law passed just months after the ban on bullfighting to prevent animal cruelty. They say the government is contradicting itself and enshrining customs to prevent future bans. “Two months ago we were all happy because we stopped bullfights. To kill or torture an animal should not constitute any kind of public display. Now they say that correbous are not a way of torturing animals,” said Lui Villacorta, an animal rights campaigner. But other activists were even more upset over the matter, with one activist telling Bikya Masr over the telephone that “what we are seeing is a traditionalist cultural perspective that cares little for life on this planet. If we don't stop here, where will we stop?” ** Bikya Masr staff contributed to this report BM
