Why We Chose to Go Undercover to Expose Crime in the Kurdish-origin Population

A pair of Kurdish-background men decided to operate secretly to expose a operation behind illegal main street enterprises because the lawbreakers are causing harm the reputation of Kurdish people in the United Kingdom, they say.

The pair, who we are calling Saman and Ali, are Kurdish journalists who have both resided legally in the UK for many years.

The team discovered that a Kurdish-linked crime network was operating small shops, barbershops and vehicle cleaning services across the United Kingdom, and wanted to learn more about how it operated and who was involved.

Armed with covert recording devices, Saman and Ali presented themselves as Kurdish-origin asylum seekers with no authorization to be employed, attempting to buy and manage a convenience store from which to sell illegal tobacco products and vapes.

The investigators were able to uncover how simple it is for a person in these conditions to establish and operate a business on the commercial area in full view. The individuals participating, we found, compensate Kurds who have UK citizenship to legally establish the operations in their names, helping to deceive the government agencies.

Saman and Ali also were able to discreetly film one of those at the core of the operation, who claimed that he could eliminate official penalties of up to sixty thousand pounds imposed on those hiring unauthorized workers.

"I aimed to contribute in revealing these unlawful practices [...] to loudly proclaim that they don't characterize us," states Saman, a ex- refugee applicant himself. Saman came to the UK without authorization, having fled the Kurdish region - a area that straddles the borders of multiple Middle Eastern countries but which is not internationally recognised as a state - because his well-being was at threat.

The journalists acknowledge that tensions over unauthorized immigration are elevated in the UK and state they have both been anxious that the investigation could intensify conflicts.

But the other reporter states that the illegal labor "harms the entire Kurdish community" and he feels obligated to "reveal it [the criminal network] out into public view".

Furthermore, the journalist explains he was concerned the publication could be exploited by the extreme right.

He states this especially affected him when he noticed that far-right campaigner a prominent activist's Unite the Kingdom rally was taking place in London on one of the Saturdays and Sundays he was operating covertly. Placards and flags could be spotted at the protest, reading "we demand our country back".

The reporters have both been monitoring social media reaction to the inquiry from inside the Kurdish-origin population and say it has generated intense anger for certain individuals. One social media post they spotted stated: "In what way can we find and locate [the undercover reporters] to kill them like dogs!"

One more called for their families in the Kurdish region to be slaughtered.

They have also seen accusations that they were spies for the British government, and traitors to fellow Kurdish people. "Both of us are not spies, and we have no intention of damaging the Kurdish-origin population," one reporter states. "Our objective is to reveal those who have damaged its reputation. Both journalists are proud of our Kurdish identity and deeply worried about the actions of such individuals."

The majority of those seeking asylum say they are fleeing politically motivated oppression, according to Ibrahim Avicil from the a refugee support organization, a organization that helps refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.

This was the scenario for our undercover reporter Saman, who, when he initially came to the UK, faced difficulties for many years. He says he had to survive on less than £20 a week while his refugee application was reviewed.

Asylum seekers now are provided approximately £49 a per week - or nine pounds ninety-five if they are in accommodation which includes food, according to government regulations.

"Honestly stating, this isn't enough to sustain a respectable lifestyle," states Mr Avicil from the RWCA.

Because refugee applicants are largely prevented from working, he thinks many are susceptible to being manipulated and are practically "obligated to work in the black sector for as low as three pounds per hourly rate".

A spokesperson for the Home Office commented: "The government are unapologetic for refusing to grant asylum seekers the authorization to be employed - granting this would establish an reason for individuals to migrate to the United Kingdom illegally."

Asylum applications can require multiple years to be processed with approximately a 33% requiring over 12 months, according to government statistics from the spring this year.

Saman says being employed illegally in a vehicle cleaning service, barbershop or mini-mart would have been quite straightforward to accomplish, but he explained to us he would never have engaged in that.

Nevertheless, he says that those he encountered working in unauthorized convenience stores during his research seemed "confused", notably those whose asylum claim has been rejected and who were in the appeal stage.

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

Ali concurs that these people seemed hopeless.

"If [they] state you're not allowed to work - but additionally [you]