SPAIN: The Spanish parliament banned “comic” bullfighting events that featured dwarves clad in costumes on Thursday, a move hailed by disability rights groups but denounced by a few surviving performers.
In Spain, dwarves have traditionally performed humorous public exhibitions where they dress up as clowns or firefighters to pursue bulls without really killing them. Although the custom has been around for decades, it has slumped in popularity.
The law, approved on Thursday and praised by activists, puts Spain into compliance with European Union guidelines on discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
On Thursday, Spain’s Royal Board on Disabilities, which advises the Ministry of social rights, stated that by outlawing public performances that degrade disabled people, the government had promoted human rights.
“We have overcome the Spain of the past,” stated Jesús Martín, the Director General of the Royal Board on Disabilities.
“People with dwarfism were subjected to mockery in public squares in our country, passing down the idea that it is okay to laugh at differences to so many girls and boys who go with adults to see these shameful performances,” he added.
The government’s prohibition on dwarf bullfighting shows was opposed by the surviving dwarf “toreros” (bullfighters). The performers stated that their livelihoods would be at stake without the shows. A group of dwarf bullfighters called Amusement in the Arena wrote on Facebook, saying, “We are bullfighters, we are artists; there are enough prohibitions; we don’t want handouts.”
“They take it for granted that people are being denigrated or laughed at, and it’s the opposite: the respect they have for us is impressive,” said Daniel Calderón, a dwarf bullfighter.
On Thursday, the performers protested outside the Spanish parliament ahead of the vote to express their disapproval of the ban.
Bullfighting is recognised as a traditional Spanish activity in which a skilled professional torero or matador competes in front of a courageous bull. Even though there are fewer self-styled “dwarf toreros,” it is still possible to witness “dwarf bullfights,” especially during celebrations honouring a town’s patron saint.
It is still practised in eight countries worldwide, three of which are in Europe, per Euro News. These include Colombia, France, Ecuador, Mexico, Spain, Peru, Portugal, and Venezuela. Although it is still legal nationwide, it has been outlawed in some Spanish cities, including Calonge, La Vajol, Tossa de Mar, and Vilamacolum.
According to a 2016 Ipsos survey, 58% of Spanish citizens aged 16–65 were against bullfighting, whereas only 19% favoured it.
The Humane Society International (HSI) estimates that approximately 250,000 bulls are killed in bullfights each year.
Although the practice is deeply ingrained in the nation’s tradition and identity, it has recently come under fire.
Many countries, including Argentina, Cuba, Canada, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Italy, have already passed legislation outlawing bullfighting.
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