Open letter to the President of France in the New York Times of Sunday July 5, 1998
This full page add was to be found in the New York Times of Sunday July 5, 1998.
FRANCE MOVES
TO TAX RELIGION!
French tax administrators have jeopardized basic human rights by
imposing a punitive 60 percent tax on the third-largest Christian
religion in France. If the tax laws can be used to suppress one
religion in France, then many religions and nonprofit organizations are
at risk.
An open letter to the President of France
Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
124 Columbia Heights
New York, New York
July 1, 1998
The Honorable Jaeques Chiese
President of France
Dear Mr. President,
In a shocking display of religious discrimination, the French
tax administration has launched a serious attack on religious freedom
and human rights. Seeking to impose a 60 percent tax on the individual
religious donations of more than 200,000 French citizens, the
authorities have raised the specter of taxes for other religion and
nonprofit organizations throughout France.
The decision followed a tax audit that lasted a year and a half.
In the audit, the Association Les Temoine de Jehovah (Association of
Jehovah's Witnesses) was found to be a not-for-profit organization, not
subject to tax for business activity. Nevertheless, on June 22, 1998,
the local tax office placed a tax lien on the property of the French
Association of Jehovah's Witnesses, alleging that the contributions of
individual members of our religion are taxable. The assessment, which
covers a four-year period amounts to some 300 million francs ($50
million, U.S.). This is the first time Jehovah's Witnesses have ever
been subject to such a tax in their 100-year tenure in France.
We feel this is clearly discriminatory and unjust. 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 non-for-profit organization the tax administration
chooses to target in the same manner.
Human Rights Violated
The ability to practice religion freely is a basic human right,
supported by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Constitution of the French
Republic. Yet the tax authority believes it has the right to use its
power of taxation arbitrarily to restrict some religions but not others.
Jehovah's Witnesses in France will challenge this gross act of
religious discrimination. They will do this not only to avoid unjust
and oppressive tax but also to help assure that all French people enjoy
freedom of religion.
Mr. President, we are confident that you believe in the
principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. We therefore ask for
your support in removing this unjust and discriminatory tax and avoiding
a dangerous threat to religious freedom and human rights in France.
Respectfully yours
L.A. Swingle
For the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses
