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In Colombia, bullfighting is okay again

by | Aug 23, 2018

Colombia’s constitutional court reversed a decision to ban bullfighting, a long-standing tradition that can count on fierce opposition.

The court said Wednesday that it would not remove bullfighting on the list of animal abuse crimes, a year and a half after banning the activity.

The ban did not take force immediately as the court gave congress a two-year deadline to produce a law that would ban the tradition that stems from colonial times.

After a change of judges, the court decided to abandon the deadline, claiming congress could only ban bullfighting voluntarily.


Colombia court will ban bull fighting in 2 years unless Congress decides otherwise


The ruling implies that also after the 2019 court deadline bullfighting will be legal unless Colombia’s notoriously slow congress decides otherwise.

The court did maintain a ban on public financing of bullfighting events, leaving the costs for the organization of the controversial “corridas de toros” with a reportedly shrinking group of aficionados.

Countries where bullfighting is legal

  • Spain
  • France
  • Portugal
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Venezuela
  • Peru
  • Ecuador

The surprise decision is likely to infuriate animal rights activists who have often staged protests at bullfighting events.