Why We Went Covert to Uncover Crime in the Kurdish Community

Two Kurdish individuals decided to work covertly to expose a operation behind illegal main street enterprises because the wrongdoers are causing harm the standing of Kurdish people in the United Kingdom, they explain.

The pair, who we are referring to as Saman and Ali, are Kurdish-origin investigators who have both lived legally in the UK for a long time.

Investigators discovered that a Kurdish criminal operation was running mini-marts, barbershops and vehicle cleaning services across the UK, and sought to learn more about how it worked and who was taking part.

Prepared with covert cameras, Ali and Saman presented themselves as Kurdish asylum seekers with no permission to work, seeking to purchase and run a small shop from which to distribute unlawful tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.

The investigators were able to uncover how straightforward it is for an individual in these situations to establish and manage a commercial operation on the commercial area in full view. The individuals involved, we found, pay Kurdish individuals who have British citizenship to register the businesses in their identities, helping to mislead the officials.

Saman and Ali also were able to secretly document one of those at the heart of the network, who claimed that he could eliminate government sanctions of up to £60,000 encountered those hiring unauthorized employees.

"I sought to play a role in uncovering these unlawful activities [...] to say that they do not speak for our community," explains Saman, a ex- asylum seeker personally. Saman entered the country illegally, having fled the Kurdish region - a region that spans the boundaries of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria but which is not internationally recognised as a nation - because his safety was at threat.

The journalists acknowledge that conflicts over unauthorized immigration are elevated in the United Kingdom and say they have both been worried that the investigation could worsen hostilities.

But the other reporter says that the illegal labor "harms the whole Kurdish-origin population" and he considers obligated to "bring it [the criminal network] out into broad daylight".

Additionally, the journalist explains he was anxious the reporting could be used by the radical right.

He states this especially struck him when he discovered that extreme right activist Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom march was occurring in London on one of the weekends he was working undercover. Banners and banners could be seen at the protest, displaying "we want our nation back".

Both journalists have both been observing social media response to the inquiry from within the Kurdish community and say it has caused strong frustration for some. One social media comment they spotted stated: "How can we find and track [the undercover reporters] to attack them like dogs!"

Another urged their families in the Kurdish region to be slaughtered.

They have also read accusations that they were spies for the UK authorities, and traitors to other Kurds. "Both of us are not informants, and we have no aim of hurting the Kurdish-origin population," one reporter says. "Our aim is to uncover those who have harmed its reputation. We are proud of our Kurdish-origin identity and deeply troubled about the actions of such persons."

The majority of those applying for asylum state they are escaping political persecution, according to Ibrahim Avicil from the a charitable organization, a charity that assists refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.

This was the scenario for our undercover reporter Saman, who, when he initially arrived to the UK, faced difficulties for many years. He explains he had to live on under £20 a week while his asylum claim was reviewed.

Refugee applicants now receive approximately £49 a per week - or nine pounds ninety-five if they are in accommodation which includes food, according to official guidance.

"Realistically stating, this is not adequate to support a dignified life," explains the expert from the RWCA.

Because asylum seekers are mostly prohibited from working, he thinks numerous are open to being manipulated and are essentially "obligated to work in the black sector for as little as £3 per hourly rate".

A spokesperson for the authorities commented: "The government are unapologetic for denying asylum seekers the permission to be employed - granting this would create an reason for individuals to travel to the UK without authorization."

Refugee cases can take years to be resolved with approximately a third requiring more than one year, according to official figures from the late March this current year.

Saman explains working illegally in a car wash, hair salon or mini-mart would have been quite simple to achieve, but he told the team he would never have participated in that.

Nevertheless, he says that those he interviewed working in illegal mini-marts during his research seemed "lost", notably those whose asylum claim has been denied and who were in the appeal stage.

"They expended all their money to come to the UK, they had their asylum denied and now they've forfeited their entire investment."

The other reporter acknowledges that these people seemed desperate.

"If [they] state you're prohibited to be employed - but additionally [you]