- Title: Spain's constitutional court overturns bull-fighting ban in Catalonia
- Date: 20th October 2016
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BARCELONA'S BULL RING SPANISH FLAG
- Embargoed: 4th November 2016 10:48
- Keywords: bulls Court ban Spain Catalonia
- Location: BARCELONA AND MADRID, SPAIN
- City: BARCELONA AND MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00154T8Y87
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A ban on bull fighting by Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia was overturned by the country's constitutional court on Thursday (October 20), the latest development in an ongoing debate over whether to continue the traditional yet bloody pastime.
Bull fighting and other centuries-old festivities which place the animal front and centre have seen support wane in recent years as a new generation of Spaniards question the legitimacy of events may say is archaic and barbaric.
Catalonia, a wealthy region which has its own language and distinct customs, and is currently in a struggle in Madrid for its independence from the rest of the country, is the first mainland region in Spain to outlaw the spectacle.
Bull fighting is protected under Spanish law and was declared a cultural asset in 2013.
But, with Catalonia ignoring the country's Constitutional Court's ruling against its declaration of independence, it remains to be seen whether it will take heed of the ruling and allow the blood sport to return to the region.
Spokeswoman Neus Munte said that the local government had no intention of reversing its decision, according to Catalan's leading newspaper La Vanguardia. "Fundamentally we do not want a country where animals are killed or tortured," she said in a press conference in early October.
Catalonia and Madrid are currently in a stand-off as the region is expected to make moves next year to break away from Spain by holding a referendum, regardless of whether the central government agrees to it or not. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
