Victory! Sinaloa Becomes The Fifth State In Mexico To Ban Cruel & Archaic Bullfighting

Animal activists rejoice as the Congress of Sinaloa unanimously approved an initiative that bans bullfighting in the state, classifying it as animal cruelty.

Sinaloa now becomes the fifth state in Mexico to ban bullfighting after Sonora, Guerrero, Coahuila, and Quintana Roo. The ban will see an end to the annual bullfights in Mazatlán, the only town in Sinaloa to still hold bullfights.

According to Humane Society International/Mexico, bullfighting still takes place in 27 states, killing thousands of bulls each year despite considerable public opposition. According to a 2013 survey by leading Mexican polling agency Parametria, 73% of Mexicans support a nationwide ban on bullfighting.

“This is an important reform in Mexico because it reflects the views and sentiments of the majority of Mexican citizens who believe that bullfighting should be banned,” said Felipe Marquez, animal cruelty program manager for HSI/Mexico in a statement. “We cannot hope to tackle violence in our society if we still allow animals to be stabbed to death for our entertainment.”

The initiative states that bullfighting infringes on the rights of the Mexican society, which is interested in the care and respect of animals, as well as a healthy environment. This is recognized in article 4 of the Constitution.

The Congress of Sinaloa expanded the scope of the Animal Welfare Law, the Environmental Law for Sustainable Development, as well as the Penal Code, to include a ban on bullfighting, better protection of wildlife, and increased fines of up to 1,000 U.S. dollars for acts of animal cruelty.