The national Austrian daily newspaper “Der Standard” has reported that a Chechen mother and her two children, who are seeking asylum in Austria, are facing deportation.

According to the newspaper, Austrian authorities have not learned from their recent mass extradition to Russia after the abduction of two Chechen asylum seekers. After being rejected by a court of asylum, this small Chechen family will now be deported by the country. Iman A left the Russian occupied Chechen Republic of Ichkeria in 2008, after being abducted and tortured because she belongs to the well-known Chechen field commander Shamil Basayev’s clan. Her mother has also been granted asylum in France, because of the relation to Basayev’s family. However, Austrian authorities do not think that it is a credible reason for asylum, even though there is a letter about Iman A and her family, written by the Human Rights Center “Memorial”.

“Iman A’s extradition to Russia would be irresponsible as they will harm her upon her return to the country,” said her lawyer.

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