Portuguese parliament rejects call to stop minors from attending bullfights

The Portuguese parliament Thursday rejected a plea by the Left Bloc, Green Party and the People-Animal-Nature party (PAN)to stop minors under the age of 18 from participating in bullfights.

The initiative was voted against by the Socialist Party, the Portuguese Communist Party, the Social Democrat Party and the CDS-PP.

PAN argues that bullfighting is a "violent show" and that children should not be allowed to witness an animal being tortured in such a way.

The party argues that children should be banned both from attending bullfighting schools and from applauding an animal being killed for mere entertainment.

However, the Portuguese Federation of Bullfighting argues that it is a form of culture which minors should have access to.

Bullfighting is a popular yet controversial sport in Spain, France and several Latin American countries.

Some Spanish television stations decided to stop broadcasting bullfighting in order to protect children from watching the fight.

While many people in Portugal are against bullfighting in Portugal, a petition named "In Defense of the Festa Brava" in favor of bullfighting garnered 100,000 signatures this year.

In April, hundreds of people protested outside the capital's bullring and marched to the parliament to call for an end to hosting bullfights. Endit