MUI CALLS ON MUSLIM COUNTRIES TO FORM TITHE COLLECTION BOARD

Jakarta, July 27 (ANTARA) - Muslim countries should set up an international tithe-collecting board (BAZ) to assist economically-backward, predominantly Muslim countries, an Indonesian ulema said.

"One of the solutions to deal with economic disparities between Muslim countries in the Middle East and those in Asia is forming an international tithe-collecting board," Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman H Amidhan said on the sidelines of a seminar themed "The Muslim World and the Future of Civilizations" here on Monday.

To form the board, rich Muslim countries in the Middle East could set aside 2.5 percent of their wealth according to the Islamic teachings. The funds would later be distributed among economically-backward, predominantly Muslim countries which were entitled to the tithe, he said.

The funds would be very helpful for the poor Muslim countries to develop their economies, he said.

The MUI chief said Muslim countries had had an Islamic bank called Islamic Development Bank (IDB). But the bank had yet to play a maximum role in assisting predominantly Muslim countries.

Therefore, he added, the presence of such an international tithe-collecting board would hopefully play a greater role in developing poor Muslim countries' economies.***