Bullfighting ban in Catalonia from start of 2012

Photo: Reuters

Catalonia’s parliament on Wednesday voted to ban bullfighting from the start of 2012. The semi-autonomous region’s assembly voted in favour of a ban, with 68 for and 55 against. There were cheers in the assembly following the vote, which had been endorsed by Catalan voters in a referendum.

After the Canary Islands, who banned the practice in 1991, it becomes the first region in mainland Spain to outlaw the tradition.

More than one million people had marched in Barcelona in support of the ban on 10 July, with the procession led by a large Catalan flag. Animal rights activists had also collected a petition of 180,000 signatures in support.