When internationally known artist Ai Weiwei was jailed in his homeland three months ago, Chinese officials said his troubles were due to unpaid back taxes. Supporters of the artist insisted that charge was just a ruse to lock up an outspoken critic of the Communist regime.
Released from prison on bail last week, Ai was forbidden to talk to the press or to travel or even to use Twitter. Now according to Slate and the Guardian Chinese officials have hit him with a bill for back taxes and interest totaling about $1.9 million. His family and supporters counter that the tax bill is inflated and that Ai is perfectly willing to pay whatever he legitimately owes. The artist, in any case, is not talking. He has until Thursday to appeal the tax ruling.
