Yemen’s government has condemned a new tax law enacted this month by the Houthi rebels in areas under their control in the country's north.
The law imposes a 20 per cent religious tax on people and local governments to be paid to the Houthis.
The Yemeni Minister of Human Rights, Dr Mohammed Askar, on Wednesday called on the Yemeni Parliament and all state and civil institutions to reject the new law enacted by the Houthi Supreme Political Council in Sanaa.
"This law is very dangerous and racial one," Dr Askar told The National. "It divides the Yemen society into two classes."
He said the tax law allowed the Houthis to "loot 20 per cent of the Yemenis' income and the state economic resources".
“Such a law will cause catastrophic consequences on the future of human rights and stability in Yemen,” Dr Askar said.
Lawyers in Houthi-held areas said the amendment was not legal and not approved by the Quran, Sharia or the Yemeni constitution.
“The article No 41 in the Yemeni constitution stated that the Yemeni citizens are all equal in rights and duties, and the article No 25 stated that the Yemeni society is based on social solidarity, which is based on justice, freedom and equality," one lawyer said.
"This proves that the new bylaw regarding the collection of the religious tax issued by the Houthi authorities is baseless."
Fatima Alasrar, a Yemen conflict analyst and non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute, said: “At a time when the world is standing up to injustice and inequality, the Houthis seek the opposite by institutionalising injustice and granting themselves financial allowances based on a claim that they are ... superior to other Yemeni citizens."
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
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Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
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Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
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Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Norwich City 1 (Cantwell 75') Manchester United 2 (Aghalo 51' 118') After extra time.
Man of the match Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
