Jane Birkin – who died on July 16 at the age of 76 – was known the world over as a singer, actor, and style icon. She was also an ardent activist who devoted particular attention to the war-torn North Caucasus region of Chechnya.
France has been criticised for deporting Chechen refugee Magamoed Gadaev to Russia despite several court rulings saying he should not be expelled, human rights groups said.
In 2010, Gadaev fled to Poland from Chechenya, Russia’s Muslim-majority southern region, where he served a prison sentence for alleged ties with separatists. He says he was tortured in prison.
Gadaev was granted asylum in Poland before moving to France, where he became a witness in prominent torture cases involving Chechen security forces. Due to the persecution he has suffered in the past and his role as a witness in cases of torture committed by the Chechen authorities, Magomed Gadaev is in danger of being tortured again and, possibly, even killed, warned Amnesty International.