Residents of the British town of Swindon who have signed a petition urging that a family of Chechen asylum-seekers should not be deported from Britain have received support from the Chechen Refugee Network in the United States, the online local news site This Is Wiltshire reports:
A member of the Chechen Refugee Network in the US contacted the Adver to congratulate the people of Swindon for backing the Eltuyevs.(via chechnya-sl)
More than 1,000 people have signed a petition and 130 readers have filled in a form printed in the paper urging the Home Office to let Islan, Zarina and their three children stay.
Dr Michaela Pohl, the assistant professor in the history department at Vassar College, New York, said: "Things in Chechnya are very complicated and one cannot simply send people back, so I am glad the community is raising awareness and support for this family.
"Basically, I just wanted to send a note of appreciation for your community's integrity and active response."
The family fled torture in Chechnya to come to Swindon in May 2003.
An Adver poll showed 85 per cent of more than 1,100 people who voted wanted them to stay.
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