[NFP] 2 war tax resisters in court

Two people are in court for refusing to pay the portion of their tax which would fund the war in Iraq. This news received from the Networking For Peace mailing list - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/networkingforpeace/

Brenda Boughton, an elderly retired teacher, will attend Oxford County Court on Tuesday 5 August (3pm) over her refusal to pay taxes that contribute to the war in Iraq. She has paid the military part of her taxes to an aid agency for war and famine relief. The pre-trial review will be the fourth time that Mrs Boughton has faced legal action over her refusal to pay taxes for war. She believes that paying for others to kill is morally equivalent to being forced to kill for herself.

‘Now that men are in less demand but money never more so - to buy or build horrific weapons of mass destruction for our own use - it is convenient for the state to disallow and gloss over any independence of conscience in the matter’ says Mrs Boughton.

Joe Jenkins, a journalist in Hereford, also faces court action. He will be at Hereford County Court on Monday 4 August. Joe attempted to pay his tax to the NHS but was refuse by Inland Revenue. 'What would you do if someone came to your door with a cup in hand asking for a contribution to help buy guns to kill a group of people they did not like?' says Joe.

Both war tax resisters have to attend private hearings at court but would certainly appreciate moral support outside court. If you are free please go along to court to show your support.

More details available from Conscience - The Peace Tax Campaign

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Conscience campaigns for the legal right for those who have a conscientious objection to war to have the military part of their taxes spent on peacebuilding initiatives.

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Conscience - the peace tax campaign
Oliver Haslam, Campaigns & Parliamentary Officer
e-mail - lobby@conscienceonline.org.uk

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