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.