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Bardot lashes Pakistan over bear-baiting
08/01/2001 14:06 - (SA)
Paris - Former French movie star Brigitte Bardot on Monday added her voice to criticism of alleged bear-baiting and dogfights in Pakistan.
In a letter to Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, published by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, the former actress accused Islamabad of having "misled" the world by repeatedly failing to enforce a 1998 law banning these practises.
"Approximately 50 dog and bear fights are organised each year in your country while the law enforcement community does nothing to enforce the law," Bardot said.
"(...) Cruel traditions should not survive in the new millennium, and my wish is that these atrocious fights will be ended this year for good. If you make this wish come true, it will be one of your grandest victories."
Bardot's letter was triggered by undercover footage released last week by an international federation of animal welfare groups, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).
The film, widely shown in Europe, showed events in rural Pakistan where dogs were set upon tethered and toothless bears, taking place while policemen looked on. - Sapa-AFP
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