KOCHI: Susan Nathan, the British-born Israeli writer who achieved fame through her book ‘The Other Side of Israel‘, is continuing to stay in India despite her visa expiring as she wants to be in a war-free zone, her counsel submitted to the Kerala high court.
When the writer’s petition challenging the deportation move came up for hearing on Friday before division bench of acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice PR Ramachandra Menon, her counsel Manjeri Sunder Raj submitted that she was staying in India as she wanted to be in a “war-free zone” in the last years of her life.
The counsel’s submission was in response to the court’s statement that she could have left the country after completing the medical treatment for which she came to Kozhikode.
Susan, who migrated to Israel from England in 1999 to make aliyah – the Hebrew term for Jewish people migrating to Israel – had later highlighted the oppression faced by Israel’s Arab population through her writings. The district administration of Kozhikode ordered for her deportation after a translation of her book by a local publisherbecame controversial. The deportation order was based on an intelligence report that she was in contact with Muslim extremist outfits., her counsel submitted to the Kerala high court.
When the writer’s petition challenging the deportation move came up for hearing on Friday before division bench of acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice PR Ramachandra Menon, her counsel Manjeri Sunder Raj submitted that she was staying in India as she wanted to be in a “war-free zone” in the last years of her life.
The counsel’s submission was in response to the court’s statement that she could have left the country after completing the medical treatment for which she came to Kozhikode.
Susan, who migrated to Israel from England in 1999 to make aliyah – the Hebrew term for Jewish people migrating to Israel – had later highlighted the oppression faced by Israel’s Arab population through her writings. The district administration of Kozhikode ordered for her deportation after a translation of her book by a local publisherbecame controversial. The deportation order was based on an intelligence report that she was in contact with Muslim extremist outfits.
Background
Susan Nathan, the Israeli writer, mired in controversy, had a deportation notice slapped against her recently for allegedly violating visa rules. The High Court single bench has asked the Police Commissioner, G Sparjankumar, who is also the Foreigner’s Registration Officer to deport the writer to Israel. The 62 year old British born Jewish writer is currently under ‘house arrest’ at Sree Nivas, Kozhikode, Kerala. During her one and half year stay in Kozhikode, her world renowned book- “The Other Side of Israel” was translated into Malayalam by Abdulla Manima and published by ‘Other Books’.
Her book fearlessly exposed the neglect, oppression, entrenched segregation and discrimination faced by the indigenous Arab population in Israel. In a resounding, unwavering voice she revealed to the world the little known intangible wall that existed between the Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs and demanded for equality and justice for all Jewish citizens irrespective of their religious and cultural differences.
She is known to be a rebel and a non conformist who does not fear to speak her mind. She spent a few years of her life in the apartheid era South Africa where her father was born. Even at the age of 16, she questioned the rigid rules of apartheid that existed in South Africa.
After her divorce in 1999 nothing pulled her back when she left her comfort zone and lived as the only Jew amongst the 25,000 odd Muslims in the Muslim dominated and neglected town of Tamara. Critically evaluating the Jewish government’s policies she wrote about the country she loved as a land that “enforces a system of land apartheid between… two populations,” just as South Africa had. Time has taken a toll on her physical self but has failed to touch the indomitable spirit encased within.
For her stand against the Israeli government and her pro Arab and humanitarian views she has been looked upon with suspicion and skepticism and for some time she has been under the intelligence scanner. Though conspicuously, expiry of visa has been sighted as the reason for deportation, after detailed enquiries, the police revealed that her actions, movement and interactions with various individuals and groups have been considered to be ambiguous, debatable and suspicious.
Susan Nathan, who is currently working on her new book, in an exclusive, most recent, detailed interview with Niranjalli Varma, Copy Editor doolnews talks about her case, her predicament and her political views regarding Israel, Iran and the world at large.
Recently a deportation notice was issued against you. What are the charges filed against you and what do you think are the reasons behind this action?
It is because I have overstayed my visa. Perhaps the police wouldn’t have told you that it is not a criminal offense to overstay your visa. I can’t reveal or disclose much right now as I have to protect myself and my case. I am sure you would appreciate that.
More at Doolnews
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