Why We Went Covert to Reveal Criminal Activity in the Kurdish Population

Two Kurdish-background individuals agreed to work covertly to expose a organization behind illegal commercial enterprises because the lawbreakers are causing harm the standing of Kurdish people in the United Kingdom, they state.

The two, who we are referring to as Ali and Saman, are Kurdish-origin journalists who have both lived lawfully in the United Kingdom for years.

Investigators found that a Kurdish illegal enterprise was running mini-marts, hair salons and vehicle cleaning services the length of the United Kingdom, and sought to discover more about how it operated and who was taking part.

Equipped with hidden cameras, Ali and Saman presented themselves as Kurdish-origin refugee applicants with no permission to be employed, looking to acquire and operate a convenience store from which to sell illegal cigarettes and vapes.

They were able to uncover how easy it is for an individual in these situations to establish and operate a enterprise on the High Street in public view. The individuals involved, we found, compensate Kurdish individuals who have British citizenship to legally establish the businesses in their identities, assisting to mislead the officials.

Ali and Saman also succeeded to secretly film one of those at the core of the operation, who asserted that he could eliminate official penalties of up to £60k imposed on those hiring illegal workers.

"Personally sought to play a role in exposing these unlawful practices [...] to loudly proclaim that they do not characterize us," states Saman, a former asylum seeker personally. The reporter entered the United Kingdom illegally, having escaped from the Kurdish region - a region that straddles the boundaries of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria but which is not internationally recognised as a state - because his well-being was at threat.

The reporters acknowledge that disagreements over unauthorized migration are high in the UK and say they have both been worried that the investigation could worsen tensions.

But Ali explains that the illegal employment "damages the whole Kurdish population" and he feels compelled to "bring it [the criminal network] out into the open".

Furthermore, the journalist mentions he was concerned the reporting could be exploited by the extreme right.

He explains this notably affected him when he realized that extreme right activist Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom rally was occurring in London on one of the weekends he was working covertly. Placards and flags could be observed at the gathering, showing "we demand our nation back".

Saman and Ali have both been tracking social media feedback to the inquiry from within the Kurdish community and say it has caused intense outrage for certain individuals. One social media post they found stated: "How can we identify and track [the undercover reporters] to attack them like dogs!"

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

They have also read allegations that they were spies for the UK government, and betrayers to fellow Kurdish people. "Both of us are not informants, and we have no intention of hurting the Kurdish community," Saman states. "Our goal is to uncover those who have harmed its image. Both journalists are proud of our Kurdish-origin identity and deeply worried about the actions of such individuals."

The majority of those seeking refugee status say they are fleeing politically motivated persecution, according to an expert from the Refugee Workers Cultural Association, a charity that helps refugees and refugee applicants in the United Kingdom.

This was the scenario for our covert reporter Saman, who, when he first came to the United Kingdom, faced difficulties for many years. He states he had to live on under twenty pounds a per week while his asylum claim was processed.

Asylum seekers now get approximately £49 a per week - or nine pounds ninety-five if they are in shelter which provides meals, according to official guidance.

"Practically speaking, this is not enough to sustain a respectable life," says Mr Avicil from the RWCA.

Because refugee applicants are generally prohibited from employment, he thinks many are open to being taken advantage of and are effectively "compelled to labor in the illegal sector for as low as £3 per hour".

A representative for the Home Office stated: "We make no apology for denying asylum seekers the right to work - granting this would create an reason for people to come to the UK without authorization."

Refugee applications can take a long time to be decided with nearly a one-third requiring more than a year, according to government statistics from the end of March this year.

The reporter states working without authorization in a car wash, barbershop or mini-mart would have been very simple to accomplish, but he informed the team he would never have engaged in that.

Nonetheless, he says that those he met working in illegal mini-marts during his investigation seemed "lost", especially those whose asylum claim has been rejected and who were in the appeals process.

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

Ali acknowledges that these people seemed desperate.

"If [they] declare you're prohibited to be employed - but simultaneously [you]