Why We Chose to Go Undercover to Uncover Crime in the Kurdish Population

Two Kurdish-background men decided to work covertly to reveal a network behind unlawful commercial establishments because the lawbreakers are negatively affecting the reputation of Kurds in the Britain, they explain.

The two, who we are referring to as Ali and Saman, are Kurdish reporters who have both lived lawfully in the UK for years.

Investigators found that a Kurdish crime network was managing mini-marts, barbershops and vehicle cleaning services throughout the UK, and aimed to discover more about how it operated and who was participating.

Equipped with hidden cameras, Saman and Ali presented themselves as Kurdish-origin asylum seekers with no authorization to work, seeking to buy and manage a convenience store from which to sell unlawful tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.

The investigators were able to uncover how easy it is for an individual in these circumstances to establish and manage a business on the main street in full view. The individuals involved, we learned, compensate Kurdish individuals who have UK residency to register the operations in their identities, helping to mislead the authorities.

Saman and Ali also succeeded to secretly film one of those at the core of the network, who asserted that he could eliminate government fines of up to £60k imposed on those hiring unauthorized laborers.

"Personally sought to contribute in revealing these illegal operations [...] to say that they do not speak for Kurdish people," explains Saman, a ex- refugee applicant himself. Saman came to the UK illegally, having fled Kurdistan - a territory that straddles the borders of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria but which is not internationally recognised as a state - because his well-being was at risk.

The investigators recognize that tensions over illegal immigration are elevated in the UK and explain they have both been worried that the inquiry could inflame hostilities.

But the other reporter states that the illegal labor "harms the entire Kurdish population" and he believes compelled to "reveal it [the criminal network] out into broad daylight".

Additionally, the journalist explains he was anxious the publication could be seized upon by the far-right.

He explains this especially affected him when he discovered that radical right campaigner a prominent activist's national unity march was occurring in London on one of the Saturdays and Sundays he was working covertly. Banners and flags could be observed at the gathering, showing "we want our nation back".

Saman and Ali have both been monitoring social media reaction to the exposé from inside the Kurdish community and report it has caused intense anger for some. One social media comment they found said: "How can we locate and track [the undercover reporters] to attack them like animals!"

A different called for their families in Kurdistan to be harmed.

They have also encountered accusations that they were spies for the British authorities, and traitors to other Kurds. "We are not spies, and we have no aim of harming the Kurdish community," one reporter explains. "Our goal is to reveal those who have harmed its standing. Both journalists are honored of our Kurdish-origin heritage and extremely concerned about the activities of such people."

Most of those seeking refugee status claim they are fleeing political persecution, according to Ibrahim Avicil from the a refugee support organization, a organization that helps refugees and refugee applicants in the United Kingdom.

This was the scenario for our undercover reporter Saman, who, when he first arrived to the United Kingdom, faced difficulties for many years. He says he had to survive on under £20 a per week while his refugee application was processed.

Refugee applicants now get approximately £49 a per week - or £9.95 if they are in accommodation which offers meals, according to official policies.

"Honestly speaking, this is not adequate to sustain a dignified life," states the expert from the the organization.

Because asylum seekers are largely restricted from employment, he thinks a significant number are open to being manipulated and are essentially "forced to labor in the unofficial market for as little as £3 per hourly rate".

A representative for the government department stated: "We do not apologize for refusing to grant refugee applicants the right to work - granting this would establish an incentive for individuals to migrate to the United Kingdom without authorization."

Asylum cases can require multiple years to be resolved with nearly a third taking more than 12 months, according to official figures from the end of March this year.

Saman states working illegally in a vehicle cleaning service, hair salon or convenience store would have been very simple to achieve, but he informed us he would never have done that.

However, he explains that those he interviewed working in unauthorized convenience stores during his research seemed "confused", especially those whose asylum claim has been denied and who were in the legal challenge.

"These individuals used their entire savings to come to the United Kingdom, they had their refugee application denied and now they've sacrificed all they had."

Ali concurs that these people seemed in dire straits.

"If [they] state you're forbidden to work - but additionally [you]