UAE | General
Sharjah authorities charge woman in coma visa fines
Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department (SNRD) has charged a woman who has been lying in coma in a hospital for the past seven weeks with overstay fines and visa cancellation fees.
- By Bassma Al Jandaly, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:13 October 9, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied picture
- Ethiopian Taiba Hussain at Al Kuwaiti hospital in Sharjah. The authorities have charged her with overstay penalties despite the fact that she has been in a coma for seven weeks.
Sharjah: Sharjah Naturalisation and Residency Department (SNRD) has charged a woman who has been lying in coma in a hospital for the past seven weeks with overstay fines and visa cancellation fees.
The Ethiopian woman, Taiba Hussain, 19, who is at Al Kuwaiti hospital, fell ill a few days after she arrived to work for a family here.
A social worker told Gulf News that the Sharjah residency department made her go to great lengths to cancel the patient's visa.
"It takes me too long to cancel Taiba's visa and to get her passport back so she can travel home but the officials refused to give hand of help," she said.
Being difficult
"They asked me to go to a typing centre to type the application for visa cancelation and refused to help despite the fact that I showed them the medical report of the woman.
"I told them that Dubai residency department will do the cancellation for free without even asking for application but they rudely said to me 'this is Sharjah'", she said.
The Ministry of Interior last year set special rules to protect the rights of domestic helpers in the country, but it seems the residency department in Sharjah is not aware of that, added the social worker.
Officials at the SNRD were not available for comments.
The law states that if a domestic helper is sick for the first three months of work then the agency must hold all responsibilities.
Taiba is travelling home today after some friends donated money for her plane ticket.
Latest news
- Strong winds and haze expected in the UAE
- Dubai Police deny reports of Burj Khalifa fire
- New road eases traffic problems in Dubai
- Abu Dhabi hosts strong man contest
- Farmers to be taught techniques to improve yield
- Keep recycling bins open
- President of Wollongong varsity about his plans
- Challenging role in Libya
- Parachuting event promises rich fare
- UAE ministry backs efficacy of Tas'heel system
- UAE students on research trip to Antarctica
- Brothers held in Sharjah for possessing heroin
- Fund drive for displaced Syrians launched
- FNC has kept pace with development — Al Murr
- Reader’s issue resolved
Community Reports
-
Keep recycling bins open
People should be allowed to do their part as the world moves towards a greener future
-
Bridges needed
Al Ittihad Road has no pedestrian facilities as one nears Sharjah
-
Street lights needed
Authorities urged to act with haste before a major accident occurs in Al Nahda, Dubai
-
Motorists ignore stop sign on buses
Overtaking school vehicles can put students' lives at risk
