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Category: Regional News
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Published on Thursday, 14 March 2024 11:01
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Written by: Ana Trocado
The controversy is taking place in Abade de Neiva, Barcelos. The Senhora da Abadia Festival Committee intends to hold a “dwarf bullfight” in June. The platform “Enough of Bullfighting” and PAN have already criticized the event. They denounce the abuse of animals and guarantee that the show calls into question “human dignity itself”. The Festival Committee says that there is no type of violence against animals and explains that it is just a humorous show. The Minister of Culture, Pedro Adão e Silva refused to comment on the controversy, claiming that the show will take place at a time when he has already finished his term.
“It’s a comedy show. A comedy show that does not inflict any type of violence on animals. A parody organized by professionals, harmless, with the purpose of cheering and captivating its audience. And dwarfs are people, like any other , who participate in the show of their own free will”, states the Senhora da Abadia Festival Committee. The organization hopes to raise funds for the Festas da Senhora da Abadia, which take place in August.
“‘Enough Bullfighting’ will do everything to prevent this degrading event for animals and people. This type of bullfighting spectacle was criticized, in 2022, by the Disability and Human Rights Observatory and the National Association of Bone Dysplasias, which considered it a serious civilizational setback’, says the platform, which has been fighting bullfighting.
“Enough of Bullfighting” recalls that bullfighting with people with dwarfism was banned in Spain, in April 2023, as it was considered “degrading spectacles for people with disabilities”. In Portugal, legislation and the General Inspection of Cultural Activities (IGAC) continue to allow these shows. The platform says it expects the Portuguese State and IGAC to act and guarantees that “it will do everything to prevent this degrading event for animals and people”.
The show, it should be noted, still needs a license, to be issued by the Chamber of Barcelos.
