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Rights activists file fresh complaints over bullfighting events in Spain involving people with dwarfism
A Málaga council is among those accused of helping stage events the foundation calls degrading and unlawful
The Franz Weber Foundation has filed two formal complaints with Spain's Ombudsman over bullfighting events involving people with achondroplasia, or dwarfism, adding to dozens of similar complaints the organisation has lodged in recent years.
The two events took place in Cantalapiedra, in the province of Salamanca, and Cortes de la Frontera, in the province of Málaga. According to the foundation, both went ahead with the backing of their respective local councils, despite the organisation writing to the relevant regional departments beforehand to ask that they be cancelled. Those requests weren't granted.
The foundation describes the events as unlawful and says they were "carried out with the collaboration of both local administrations." It's now calling on Spain's Ombudsman to formally reprimand the councils involved for allowing them to go ahead.
Rubén Pérez, campaign coordinator for the Franz Weber Foundation, said the issue goes well beyond simple welfare.
"We are talking about Human Rights and respect for the dignity of all people," he said, arguing that events like these undermine the dignity of an entire group of people simply because of who they are.
The timing is awkward for Andalucía's regional government in particular. Just a couple of weeks before the Cortes de la Frontera event came to light, the community's authorities announced their support for traditional bullfighting, pledging to help preserve the tradition and make it easier for towns to hold bullfighting events. Critics say that stance sits uncomfortably alongside a case involving one of its own municipalities.
For the Franz Weber Foundation, though, this is just the latest chapter in a long-running campaign. The organisation has repeatedly raised concerns about similar events over the past few years, arguing that they continue to slip through despite the objections already on record.
Image: Fundación Franz Weber
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