Businessmen and the rich are confused about whom to give Zakat to:Zakat confusion sweeps through Yemen [Archives:2003/688/Last Page]

A major dispute emerged about Zakat (an Islamic taxation system) in the month of Ramadan between the government and welfare associations, which, to a large extent, depend on Zakat to carry out their social and cultural activities.
The government issued new orders to force businessmen and the rich to give Zakat to the government, which says it will use it for the welfare of the poor people as Islamic states.
The move started when the premier ordered the ministries of finance and endowment to assess the Zakat percentage and know who will be obliged to pay it, and then collect it during the month of Ramadan.
The ministry of endowment then issued a fatwa stating that giving Zakat to the government is an obligation that must be met by all those eligible, because according to the ministry's note, 'the government is according to Islam, the authorized entity to collect it'.
The government used its authority to ensure the collection of Zakat by preventing any commercial deals or bids for governmental projects without paying for it.
This followed stiff measures by the government to monitor accounts of businessmen and companies and prevent welfare associations from collecting Zakat from businessmen and companies.
“This has resulted in a chaotic situation and confused the businessmen who were in the past willing to give welfare associations money to give to the poor because of their trust.
But the government's actions have now deprived hundreds of thousands of poor families from those goods