The Joys of Diversity & Cultural Enrichment (XVII)

Which Western country is getting the most out of its immigration policy? Today's contenders are the Netherlands, Britain and Sweden.


1) Sweden

Police believe they may have solved several violent sexual attacks in the Stockholm district of Tensta.

An 18 year old male is in custody for committing three rapes in Sweden. In addition, it is believed that he is responsible for five rapes committed in Belgium.

"It is about assault and rape, he has exerted a powerful force on his victims," said Commissioner Manne Jönsson, head of the intelligence division of the western police.

"In all probability he will be sentenced for three rapes or rape attempts."

Police believe the man has been in Sweden for a short period - a month or two. Now a comprehensive investigation and also mapping of what the man has done and where he has been during his time in Sweden will be carried out.

"We will investigate this in detail, we will find out the answer to every single question that we have. It may well be that he has committed further crimes that in the current situation we do not know about," says Jönsson.

The man is suspected to have been in Belgium for a couple of years. He is suspected of having committed the first crime when he was just 16 years old.


2) Britain

A Muslim ex-councillor has seen his two cousins charged with electoral fraud after voting for him repeatedly using false identities.

TWO cousins of ex-councillor Mohammed Najib (above) voted for him under false names, a court heard.

Saeed Aslam, 21, and Gularif Bostan, 27, admitted impersonating other people when they voted in the Calderdale Council elections on May 1, 2008.

Prosecutor Simon Orme said the pair went to a polling station at Warley Road Primary School, Halifax, with Mr Najib.

Polling clerk Sajid Mohammed asked for their names and addresses and they told him they were Ibrar Hussain and Mehrban Mohammed.

Mr Orme said: "Sajid Mohammed was suspicious because he knew Mehrban Mohammed to be over 60 and knew his son, Imran. He confronted the men and said they were not who they claimed to be."

They insisted they were and were issued voting papers.

Later the men told police Mr Najib had given them the names and addresses and had told them to vote for him.

Mr Orme said: "Bostan did not know if he could put someone else's vote in or not. He trusted Najib as a member of his family.

"Aslam said he had a bad feeling and thought it might be false. But they were told by Najib they were his personal votes."

Anstasri Tasou, for Bostan, said Mr Najib was a senior family member, one who could be trusted, one whose word could be taken on trust.

"He said: 'It is my vote, it is OK, you can use it, even though it is not in your name.'" Shakil Ahmed, for Aslam, said: "He trusted Najib in this matter. Najib was acting on their behalf and was the person behind this act."

Mr Najib lost his seat in Park ward last year after 22 years. He was arrested and questioned over election fraud but released without charge.

Aslam, of Vulcan Close, Flatts, Dewsbury, and Bostan, of Savile Grove, Savile Town, Dewsbury, were sentenced to 12 months' community service with 300 hours of unpaid work and £60 costs.


3) Netherlands

A shop attached to a mosque in Breda has been allowed to deduct its expenses, saving thousands of euros in taxes every year:

The Dutch Tax Administration reviewed the shop's books a couple of years ago and required five years of back-taxes. The shop's earnings were never counted and went straight to mosque maintenance.

The foundation in question was established in 1991 and maintains a mosque. The mosque has a shop in a separate space next to the mosque which sells Turkish spices and specialties, as well as sweets and foreign call-cards. The shop is run by volunteers, is open throughout the day, but also offers food after the official closing time, enabling the mosque-visitors to pay on their own.

According to the shop manager the earnings were under the 7,500 euro required for paying corporate taxes, due to a deduction of 15,000 euro for 'labor costs'. This is based on an article in the corporate tax law which enables organizations which serve social interests to make such fictional deductions. The court accepted the argument and said that the tax authorities did not show any proof of unfair competition.

Tax adviser Bert Bongers says that the judge made the decision without comparing the mosque-shop prices with those of other shops, and that the 'labor costs' deduction is meant only for foundations such as sports clubs.

Fiscal expert Monique Ligtenberg says the new court decision could also apply to museums and zoos which serve social interests and work with volunteers. She says the decision is clearly against the rules of the Tax Administration, which can still challenge the decision.