The government of France
has ruled that the Jehovah's Witnesses faith is not a religion
and now says it owes $50 million (300 million francs) in back
taxes.
And, in May this year, the French Tax Authority ruled the Witnesses ineligible
for a church exemption and gave the group a whopping 60% tax rate, which
amounts to $25 million, which was doubled by penalties and interest.
In a full page advert in the New York Times, the society has written to
France’s president, Jacques Chirac, asking him to reverse the tax
authority’s decision. |
Special Report
Describing the bill as "discriminatory
and unjust" the governing body says it will appeal to
the European Court in an effort to get the decision reversed.
In the letter to Mr Chirac the governing body says:
"We believe the entire assessment arises from an erroneous application of
the law governing the exercise of religion, and it could affect donations to
any religion, charity or not-for-profit organisation the tax administration chooses
to target in the same manner.
"Jehovah’s Witnesses in |
France will challenge
this gross act of religious discrimination.
"They will do this not only to avoid an unjust and oppressive tax but also
to help assure that all French people enjoy freedom of religion."
The society says it has been criticised in recent years by anti-sect organisations.
It has 220,000 members in France and has done mission work since 1900.
"Their intent seems to be to break us financially and stop our work in France," said
Judah Schroeder of the Watch Tower Society.
Click here
for more details and N.Y. Times advert. |
