Bullfighting groups cry foul over Twitter abuse
Spain's major bullfighting organizations have called on authorities to take action against people making "despicable" comments on Twitter about a bullfight on Tuesday which was cancelled after all three bullfighters were injured.
Five groups made a joint statement declaring their "complete repulsion" towards what they described as "unspeakable" comments made on the social media network after Madrid's San Isidro bullfighting festival was cancelled.
They claimed that the comments incited hatred towards both the injured bullfighters "who shed their blood in the arena of Las Ventas" and bullfighting in general, which they described as "fully recognized" as a legal activity of "ethical and cultural value".
In the statement the groups also hailed the "dignity and sacrifice" of the injured bullfighters and said that the offensive comments on Twitter were made by users "protected by cowardly anonymity or by a misunderstood use of freedom of expression."
They also stated their intention to strive towards making Spanish authorities put an end to the "despicable" anti-bullfighting expressions.
The organization Juventud Taurina (Bullfighting Youth) went one step further and organized a meeting at the gates of Las Ventas bullring to call upon Spain's authorities to take legal action against people on Twitter who wished death upon the injured matadors.
"Of course freedom of expression exists, but its freedom ends where ours begins and we will not let them step on us time and time again with impunity," they declared, according to Spanish daily La Información.
Many tweets in English from international Twitter users after news broke of the events at Las Arenas were mocking in tone:
Bulls 3 Matadors 0: 'World Series' bull fight is cancelled for first time in 35 years after ... - good it is an evil sport!
— corrina stokes (@corrina_10) May 22, 2014
Spanish reactions were also generally less than sympathetic towards David Mora, the most seriously injured matador:
Cuando un toro cornea a un torero la gente echa las manos a la cabeza, cuando es al toro al que matan, aplauden!! #DavidMora no me das pena
— Condesa Villaverde (@CondesaSoy) May 20, 2014
"When a bull gores a bullfighter people hold their head in their hands, when the bull dies they applaud! #DavidMora I am not sorry."
Si el torero no merece morir, el toro ¿por qué sí? Me da vergüenza este país
— D+ (@doloresprado11) May 21, 2014
"If the bullfighter doesn't deserve to die, why does the bull? I'm ashamed of this country."
Pues yo creo que lo bueno de que mueran toreros es que así surgirán más para sustituirles y podrán morir también.
— SanteroTrece™ (@SanteroTrece) May 21, 2014
"I think the best thing about bullfighters dying is that more bullfighters will replace them and then they can die too."
Others were more succinct:
No me dan ninguna pena los toreros heridos en las ventas, que les jodan
— Marta de Andrés (@MartaAP_) May 22, 2014
"I'm not at all sorry for bullfighters who are injured in the arena. F**k them."
The call by bullfighting organizations for tighter control of comments in Twitter comes shortly after Spain's Interior Minister, Jorge Fernández Díaz, annouced authorities would crack down on people posting offensive content about ruling Party Politican Isabel Carrasco, murdered in broad daylight in mid-May.
While some praised the crackdown, others viewed it as an attempt to silence free speech about a political figure widely viewed as controversial, and a futher attempt on the part of the government against criticism.
Several people have subsequently been arrested for making offensive tweets about the Carrasco case.
Bullfighting has been on the decline for years in Spain, with a 2010 survey in El Pais showing 60 percent of respondents opposed the practice.
Barcelona's ring held its final bullfight in September 2011 after the Catalonia region banned bullfighting, the second Spanish region to do so after the Canary Islands.
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Five groups made a joint statement declaring their "complete repulsion" towards what they described as "unspeakable" comments made on the social media network after Madrid's San Isidro bullfighting festival was cancelled.
They claimed that the comments incited hatred towards both the injured bullfighters "who shed their blood in the arena of Las Ventas" and bullfighting in general, which they described as "fully recognized" as a legal activity of "ethical and cultural value".
In the statement the groups also hailed the "dignity and sacrifice" of the injured bullfighters and said that the offensive comments on Twitter were made by users "protected by cowardly anonymity or by a misunderstood use of freedom of expression."
They also stated their intention to strive towards making Spanish authorities put an end to the "despicable" anti-bullfighting expressions.
The organization Juventud Taurina (Bullfighting Youth) went one step further and organized a meeting at the gates of Las Ventas bullring to call upon Spain's authorities to take legal action against people on Twitter who wished death upon the injured matadors.
"Of course freedom of expression exists, but its freedom ends where ours begins and we will not let them step on us time and time again with impunity," they declared, according to Spanish daily La Información.
Many tweets in English from international Twitter users after news broke of the events at Las Arenas were mocking in tone:
Bulls 3 Matadors 0: 'World Series' bull fight is cancelled for first time in 35 years after ... - good it is an evil sport!
— corrina stokes (@corrina_10) May 22, 2014 Spanish reactions were also generally less than sympathetic towards David Mora, the most seriously injured matador:
Cuando un toro cornea a un torero la gente echa las manos a la cabeza, cuando es al toro al que matan, aplauden!! #DavidMora no me das pena
— Condesa Villaverde (@CondesaSoy) May 20, 2014 "When a bull gores a bullfighter people hold their head in their hands, when the bull dies they applaud! #DavidMora I am not sorry."
Si el torero no merece morir, el toro ¿por qué sí? Me da vergüenza este país
— D+ (@doloresprado11) May 21, 2014 "If the bullfighter doesn't deserve to die, why does the bull? I'm ashamed of this country."
Pues yo creo que lo bueno de que mueran toreros es que así surgirán más para sustituirles y podrán morir también.
— SanteroTrece™ (@SanteroTrece) May 21, 2014 "I think the best thing about bullfighters dying is that more bullfighters will replace them and then they can die too."
Others were more succinct:
No me dan ninguna pena los toreros heridos en las ventas, que les jodan
— Marta de Andrés (@MartaAP_) May 22, 2014 "I'm not at all sorry for bullfighters who are injured in the arena. F**k them."
The call by bullfighting organizations for tighter control of comments in Twitter comes shortly after Spain's Interior Minister, Jorge Fernández Díaz, annouced authorities would crack down on people posting offensive content about ruling Party Politican Isabel Carrasco, murdered in broad daylight in mid-May.
While some praised the crackdown, others viewed it as an attempt to silence free speech about a political figure widely viewed as controversial, and a futher attempt on the part of the government against criticism.
Several people have subsequently been arrested for making offensive tweets about the Carrasco case.
Bullfighting has been on the decline for years in Spain, with a 2010 survey in El Pais showing 60 percent of respondents opposed the practice.
Barcelona's ring held its final bullfight in September 2011 after the Catalonia region banned bullfighting, the second Spanish region to do so after the Canary Islands.
Don't miss stories about Spain, join The Local on Facebook and Twitter.
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