Israeli author has links with extremists: Kerala

KOCHI: The state government on Friday submitted before the Kerala High Court that Israeli author Susan Nathan who is facing a deportation has close connections with the Islamic-extremist groups in the state. Advocate General K P Dandapani made the submission in response to 62-year-old British-born Jewish writer Susan’s appeal challenging the deportation notice issued by the Kozhikode District Collector.According to the police, she is staying in a rented apartment which has been arranged with the help of Aboobaker, former vice-president of the banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). “Her activities are suspicious. She has close connections with the SIMI and the NDF activists,” the report said.  However, the counsel for the petitioner opposed the arguments of the AG and submitted that the she is in Kerala on a palliative care mission.  A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon asked the counsel for Susan Nathan to provide details to substantiate that she had been engaged in palliative care activities. The court pointed out that there was nothing on record to show that she was engaged in the service sector. The court reserved its order on the petition.