THE TELEGRAPH: Catalan lawmakers have voted to ban bullfighting across the northeastern region striking a blow to aficionados of the most emblematic and controversial Spanish tradition.
The Parliament of Catalonia voted 68 in favour and 55 against with nine abstentions to abolish bullfighting on the grounds of animal cruelty ushering in the first outlawing of the tradition on mainland Spain.
The vote followed months of impassioned debate over the subject of bullfighting that pitted animal rights activists against the supporters of what is known as Spain's “national fiesta”.
Campaigners against the “cruel and unnecessary spectacle” hailed the result as a “historic victory” and one that they hoped would be taken up across other regions of Spain.
”Today five centuries of cruelty have ended because the people of Catalonia wanted it,” said Deborah Parris, a spokesman for anti-bullfighting group Prou! – meaning Enough!
”The suffering of animals in Catalan bullrings has been abolished once and for all. It has created a precedent we hope will be replicated in other democratic parliaments, in those regions and countries where such cruel bullfights are still allowed.” >>> Fiona Govan, in Barcelona | Wednesday, July 28, 2010
SKY NEWS: Catalonia has become the first region in Spain to ban the country's foremost sport - bullfighting. Simon Newton reports.
NZZ ONLINE: Katalonien verbietet den Stierkampf: Entscheid mit 68 zu 55 Stimmen im Regionalparlament >>> sda/dpa/afp | Mittwoch, 28. Juli 2010
