Earlier this month People for the Ethical Treatment Of Animals (PETA), the controversial animal rights advocacy organisation, had organised large ‘topless’ protests against Spanish bull-fighting.

Pampalona, where the protests took place, is also the famous setting for the ‘running of the bulls’ during a local festival. The practice involves attempting to outrun a small group of bulls let loose on a cordoned off route. Post the running of the bulls there is usually a Spanish bull-fight organised in the evening.

PETA and other animal rights advocates have been protesting against the treatment of bulls during the Spanish bull-fights.

A typical bull-fight involves ‘planting’ sharp objects with flag like banners on the bull’s hump followed by its killing using swords. Various procedures and codes are followed in what can at best be described as a ritual slaughter of the bull. This rather gory event has been wrongly conflated with the jallikattu tradition of South India where bulls are allowed a free run with men attempting to simply latch on to a running animal for a few seconds.

Meanwhile, there has been significant opposition to animal rights protests against bull-fighting. A Spanish court struck down a law banning bull-fighting citing “preservation of common cultural heritage”. Incumbent Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is one among those Spanish personalities who have come out in support of bull-fighting. The common refrain against the demand for a ban on bull-fighting is that it is part of a national tradition and cannot be done away with.