Zara Murtazaliyeva, a young Chechen girl falsely convicted of terrorism and sentenced to nine years in prison in 2004 was released from a Russian prison in September 2012. She has recently asked for asylum in France.

According to French media sources, she arrived in France to promote a book related to female prisoners in Russia and also participated in a few conferences. While staying in Paris, she was harrased by the Russian security service, or FSB. Now she is asking for asylum immediately.

“I was afraid of being arrested again on the way to the airport. I ran to get on the plane”, she said. “When it took off, I felt free. And when I saw that the plane was landing in Paris, it was fantastic. I do not have to look over my shoulder to see if someone is watching me. Even still, while in Paris I received a text message from the FSB. They want to meet with me upon my return,” said Murtazaliyeva.

Zara is 29 years old now. She is trying to turn a new page in her life in France. “Adapting to a foreign country is a small thing compared to what I have experienced. It does not scare me,” she said.

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