Colombian President Petro Signs Historic Bullfighting Ban

Colombian President Gustavo Petro signed a bill banning bullfights, marking a reduction in the global list of countries where the tradition remains legal. The ban was approved by Congress in May 2023 and aims to fully eradicate bullfighting by 2027. The move has sparked debate about cultural heritage and animal rights.

In a landmark decision, Colombian President Gustavo Petro signed legislation on Monday that bans bullfighting throughout the country. The signing ceremony, held in Bogota's bullring, was attended by hundreds of animal rights activists.

President Petro emphasized that the tradition of killing animals for entertainment is not a cultural value that Colombia should uphold. 'That kind of culture of killing an animal for entertainment would also lead us to killing human beings for entertainment, because we are also animals,' Petro stated.

While the bill seeks to eliminate bullfighting by 2027, it also intends to repurpose existing bullrings into cultural and sporting venues. The legislation has faced strong opposition from bullfighting aficionados, who argue it violates cultural rights and jeopardizes jobs.