DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: TAX CHEATS & INVESTIGATIONS

Tax probe on Muslim hardliners
Richard Kerbaj

THE Howard Government has demanded an investigation by the tax commissioner into hardline Islamic clerics who are encouraging their followers to cheat the tax system.

The federal Government yesterday also called on moderate Muslim spiritual leaders to crack down on radical clerics pushing for tax evasion.

Assistant Treasurer Peter Dutton urged the public to contact the Australian Taxation Office if they suspected anyone cheating on tax or encouraging others to do so.

"We call on the moderate community to haul these people into line, to make sure the majority view prevails ... that people should meet their taxation and legal obligations," he said.

The Australian yesterday revealed that fundamentalist Muslim imams were encouraging their followers to avoid paying tax because they considered paying income tax contrary to Islamic sharia law.

Mr Dutton yesterday wrote to the tax commissioner asking him to investigate matter.

Opposition assistant Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen yesterday said Labor also condemned any form of tax evasion.

"While it is an extremist minority in the community that holds this view on income tax, this needs to be exposed and any claims of tax evasion must be investigated," he said.

"A fair income tax system is based on the premise that everyone must pay their fair share."

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The calls for investigation come after it was revealed that moslems were being told not to pay taxes because it was not in accordance with shari'ah:

CHEAT ON YOUR TAXES, PAYING THEM IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SHARI'AH


Pertinent Links:

1) Tax probe on Muslim hardliners