The daily provincial French newspaper, Ouest-France, has reported that a Chechen family seeking refuge in France is facing deportation.

According to the information, a father, mother and three children were forced to leave the Russian occupied Chechen Republic of Ichkeria because of threats that they received. They arrived in France in December 2009 and asked for asylum. However, their asylum demand was rejected and the Chechen family is at risk of deportation at any time.

On the other hand, a group of local residents in the city of Segré has created a support committee for the family. On December 21, at 6.00pm, around 80 people gathered in front of the sub-prefecture in Segré to express their support for the Chechen family and to protest the deportation order.

“They fled from their country because they were threatened,” said Jérome Hoeve, one of the protesters. He added that everyone must be vigilant against the deportation, which may occur any time.

*Text was written by Waynakh Online and edited by Michael Capobianco