Israeli author Susan Nathan, who is facing deportation for overstaying without valid travel documents, is under increasing pressure to leave the country.
Police sources denied Ms. Nathan's allegation that she was under house arrest, but admitted that policemen were posted at her house for surveillance and as a safety measure. “Since Sunday, I am not even permitted to go and buy vital drugs needed,” she said in a message emailed to The Hindu . “I had to phone the pharmacy and they kindly brought them to me. No formal wording as such [that she is under house arrest]… just commands from the Commissioner.”
The Kerala High Court recently rejected Ms. Nathan's appeal against the quit notice the city police had issued her with. Her visa expired on September 16, 2010, but Ms. Nathan challenged the notice stating that she had already applied for a resident permit.
Following the court order, the police here requested the Collector to issue “a quit notice” again. Ms. Nathan is, however, deciding to appeal against the court order. She has been asked by the police to inform them of her plans for departure, such as the date and the flight she would take.
Ms. Nathan's application for the extension of her visa is still pending with the Home Ministry (MHA). Her lawyer Manjeri Sunder Raj was heard by the MHA as well as the Ministry of External Affairs. Further hearing is to be held shortly.
The MHA, Foreigners Division, New Delhi — vide letter 25022/28/2011FV dated 21.7.2011 — instructed that Ms. Nathan's X-Visa be converted into a Medical Visa and that she be granted extension of stay in the country up to a period recommended by the medical authorities concerned. This letter, Ms. Nathan's lawyer alleged, has not been communicated to Susan Nathan so far.
However, her application for medical visa made to the State government had been forwarded by the Chief Minister to the District Police Chief and the Collector.
“The erroneous Malayalam translation of her book, The Other Side of Israel , published by Other Books, Kozhikode, on permission from original publishers Harper Collins, had also caused some misunderstanding,” her lawyer said.
