Cheating foreign governments (Fatwa No. 14305)

Q: A person has been living in a Western country (Japan) for some three odd years. During this time, he has ridden the train without paying the fees, and has made over 500 US$ in calls with forged calling cards. Now, he is regretful. However, he is indebted to no one in particular, but to the government it self. With the advent of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurisprudent) and the Islamic republic, is the burden of rectification to the Islamic republic, or to the Western government?

A: Whether or not a government is Islamic or not, it is the owner of its goods. To illegally take possession of a government's property is usurpation, and rightfully belongs to it. The amount due must be paid to the government (of that country).

 
 
Imaminfo, e-Mail: imaminfo@islam-pure.de 
Copyright © since 1999