The Reasons We Chose to Go Covert to Reveal Crime in the Kurdish Community

A pair of Kurdish men consented to operate secretly to uncover a operation behind illegal High Street enterprises because the wrongdoers are negatively affecting the standing of Kurds in the UK, they say.

The two, who we are calling Saman and Ali, are Kurdish-origin investigators who have both lived lawfully in the UK for many years.

The team found that a Kurdish-linked illegal enterprise was operating mini-marts, barbershops and vehicle cleaning services throughout Britain, and aimed to learn more about how it operated and who was involved.

Armed with secret recording devices, Saman and Ali presented themselves as Kurdish refugee applicants with no authorization to be employed, attempting to purchase and operate a convenience store from which to distribute illegal cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.

They were successful to reveal how simple it is for an individual in these circumstances to establish and run a enterprise on the High Street in plain sight. The individuals participating, we learned, pay Kurdish individuals who have UK residency to legally establish the operations in their names, enabling to deceive the authorities.

Saman and Ali also were able to secretly film one of those at the core of the network, who claimed that he could erase government penalties of up to sixty thousand pounds faced those hiring illegal employees.

"I aimed to play a role in exposing these illegal practices [...] to say that they do not represent us," states Saman, a ex- asylum seeker himself. The reporter came to the country illegally, having escaped from Kurdistan - a area that covers the borders of multiple Middle Eastern countries but which is not globally acknowledged as a nation - because his safety was at danger.

The journalists recognize that tensions over unauthorized immigration are significant in the UK and say they have both been concerned that the inquiry could intensify hostilities.

But the other reporter says that the illegal labor "negatively affects the entire Kurdish-origin population" and he believes obligated to "expose it [the criminal network] out into the open".

Additionally, the journalist says he was anxious the publication could be used by the extreme right.

He states this especially affected him when he noticed that far-right campaigner a prominent activist's national unity protest was happening in the capital on one of the Saturdays and Sundays he was operating secretly. Signs and flags could be spotted at the gathering, showing "we demand our nation returned".

Both journalists have both been observing social media feedback to the investigation from within the Kurdish community and report it has caused intense outrage for certain individuals. One Facebook post they observed read: "How can we identify and find [the undercover reporters] to attack them like dogs!"

Another urged their families in Kurdistan to be harmed.

They have also read allegations that they were spies for the British authorities, and traitors to fellow Kurds. "Both of us are not spies, and we have no aim of harming the Kurdish-origin population," one reporter says. "Our objective is to expose those who have compromised its standing. Both journalists are proud of our Kurdish heritage and deeply concerned about the activities of such individuals."

Most of those seeking refugee status claim they are fleeing politically motivated discrimination, according to Ibrahim Avicil from the a refugee support organization, a charity that helps refugees and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom.

This was the scenario for our undercover journalist one investigator, who, when he first came to the United Kingdom, faced difficulties for years. He says he had to survive on under twenty pounds a week while his refugee application was reviewed.

Asylum seekers now receive approximately £49 a week - or nine pounds ninety-five if they are in housing which offers meals, according to government guidance.

"Realistically saying, this isn't sufficient to maintain a dignified life," states the expert from the RWCA.

Because refugee applicants are largely prevented from employment, he feels many are susceptible to being exploited and are essentially "forced to work in the black sector for as little as £3 per hour".

A representative for the authorities commented: "The government do not apologize for refusing to grant asylum seekers the permission to be employed - doing so would establish an incentive for people to migrate to the UK illegally."

Asylum cases can require years to be decided with nearly a 33% taking more than 12 months, according to government statistics from the end of March this current year.

The reporter explains being employed illegally in a car wash, hair salon or mini-mart would have been quite simple to accomplish, but he explained to the team he would never have engaged in that.

Nevertheless, he explains that those he encountered laboring in illegal mini-marts during his research seemed "disoriented", notably those whose asylum claim has been rejected and who were in the appeals process.

"They used all of their funds to come to the United Kingdom, they had their refugee application rejected and now they've sacrificed their entire investment."

Ali concurs that these individuals seemed in dire straits.

"If [they] state you're prohibited to work - but simultaneously [you]