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France Returns Funds Collected Illegally From Jehovahs Witnesses

Jehovahs Witnesses

DECEMBER 12, 2012 | FRANCE

France Returns Funds Collected Illegally From Jehovahs Witnesses

After a 15-year legal battle, on December 11, 2012, the government of France repaid to Jehovahs Witnesses funds totaling 6,373,987.31 euros ($8,294,320). In 1998, the government asserted that religious donations made by Jehovahs Witnesses were subject to a crushing retroactive 60 percent tax and, in 2003, demanded partial payment. The European Court of Human Rights found that France was guilty of violating the religious freedom of Jehovahs Witnesses through the illegal tax, which, if enforced, could have resulted in the liquidation of the Witnesses national offices and obstructed their Bible education work. Since the Court ruled that the tax was illegal, the French government is now starting to implement the Courts decision by returning the funds collected, with interest, and paying the Witnesses legal expenses. Media Contacts: J. R. Brown, Office of Public Information, tel. +1 718 560 5000 France: Guy Canonici, tel. +33 2 32 25 55 55

Copyright 2013 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.

www.jw.org/en/news/by-region/europe/france/france-returns-funds-collected-illegally/

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