Animal rights activists have protested the return of bullfighting to Mexico City after it was suspended almost two years ago. On January 28, the city hosted the first bullfight since 2022.
A judge has ordered an indefinite halt to the practice - which dates back to the 16th century in Mexico - agreeing with animal rights activists who filed a lawsuit. The Supreme Court overturned the decision last month, but a legal battle between supporters and opponents of the fights is likely.
Local media reported that the judges ruled only on technical aspects and have not yet made a decision on the merits.
"Torture is not art, it is not culture," chanted demonstrators outside the Plaza de México bullring, the world's largest bullring. People waved placards with slogans including "End the death of innocents". Others wore bull masks painted red.
But inside the hall, thousands celebrated the return of the bulls with chants of "Long Live Freedom". President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has proposed holding a referendum on the future of bullfighting in Mexico City.
According to the International Society for Animal Welfare, around 250,000 bulls are killed every year in the world. Bullfighting is still legal in many areas of Mexico, which is one of the few countries that still allows the practice. Other countries include France, Portugal, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador.
Although it is also legal in Spain, in some cities this practice is prohibited at the local level./BGNES