Jewelry and the corruption of zakat
Zakat is an Islamic practice akin to that described as tithing elsewhere. The abuse of zakat by Islamic governments is a longstanding trope in the faith, as illustrated by the article from Yemen excerpted below. Note the similarity to Jesus' contrast between the widow's mite and hypocritical religious leaders:
One can not fail to take note of the multitude of women in Jewelry and Gold Sales outlets, assessing the value of their jewelry, so they can meet their Zakat obligations voluntarily. Thus there is really no need for Zakat assessors, as they only tend to delve into extortion practices or bribery, in order to be able to keep with their wealthy neighbors, who have found their niches in other questionable enterprises, that have drained the pockets and the souls of the vast majority of the poor people of Yemen. |