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

Two Kurdish-background men agreed to go undercover to reveal a network behind unlawful High Street enterprises because the lawbreakers are causing harm the standing of Kurdish people in the UK, they explain.

The pair, who we are referring to as Saman and Ali, are Kurdish-origin investigators who have both lived legally in the United Kingdom for many years.

Investigators discovered that a Kurdish crime network was operating convenience stores, barbershops and car washes the length of the UK, and wanted to learn more about how it functioned and who was involved.

Armed with hidden recording devices, Ali and Saman posed as Kurdish-origin asylum seekers with no permission to work, attempting to acquire and manage a small shop from which to trade unlawful cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.

They were successful to uncover how simple it is for an individual in these situations to set up and operate a business on the High Street in full view. Those involved, we learned, compensate Kurdish individuals who have UK citizenship to register the operations in their names, enabling to fool the authorities.

Saman and Ali also succeeded to covertly film one of those at the core of the operation, who asserted that he could remove government penalties of up to sixty thousand pounds encountered those using illegal employees.

"I sought to play a role in revealing these unlawful practices [...] to declare that they do not represent our community," explains Saman, a ex- asylum seeker himself. The reporter entered the United Kingdom illegally, having escaped from Kurdistan - a territory that spans the boundaries of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria but which is not globally acknowledged as a nation - because his life was at danger.

The reporters acknowledge that tensions over unauthorized immigration are significant in the UK and explain they have both been worried that the probe could intensify hostilities.

But the other reporter explains that the illegal working "negatively affects the entire Kurdish community" and he feels compelled to "bring it [the criminal network] out into the open".

Furthermore, the journalist explains he was concerned the coverage could be exploited by the far-right.

He states this notably struck him when he noticed that extreme right activist a prominent activist's national unity march was occurring in London on one of the weekends he was working secretly. Placards and banners could be seen at the gathering, displaying "we want our nation returned".

The reporters have both been observing online feedback to the investigation from inside the Kurdish population and explain it has caused significant frustration for some. One social media message they observed stated: "In what way can we identify and find [the undercover reporters] to harm them like animals!"

One more demanded their relatives in the Kurdish region to be slaughtered.

They have also seen claims that they were agents for the UK authorities, and betrayers to other Kurdish people. "We are not informants, and we have no desire of hurting the Kurdish-origin population," one reporter states. "Our aim is to reveal those who have harmed its image. Both journalists are proud of our Kurdish-origin heritage and deeply troubled about the activities of such persons."

The majority of those applying for asylum state they are fleeing politically motivated persecution, according to Ibrahim Avicil from the a refugee support organization, a charity that assists asylum seekers and asylum seekers in the UK.

This was the case for our covert journalist one investigator, who, when he first arrived to the United Kingdom, experienced challenges for years. He says he had to live on less than £20 a per week while his asylum claim was processed.

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

"Realistically saying, this is not enough to support a acceptable existence," explains Mr Avicil from the the organization.

Because asylum seekers are mostly restricted from employment, he believes numerous are open to being manipulated and are effectively "forced to work in the unofficial sector for as little as £3 per hourly rate".

A spokesperson for the Home Office stated: "The government make no apology for refusing to grant asylum seekers the authorization to be employed - doing so would create an motivation for individuals to migrate to the United Kingdom without authorization."

Refugee cases can require multiple years to be processed with almost a one-third requiring more than 12 months, according to official figures from the late March this current year.

Saman explains working without authorization in a car wash, barbershop or convenience store would have been very simple to achieve, but he informed us he would never have participated in that.

However, he explains that those he met employed in unauthorized mini-marts during his investigation seemed "confused", notably those whose refugee application has been denied and who were in the appeals process.

"These individuals expended their entire funds to migrate to the United Kingdom, they had their refugee application rejected and now they've sacrificed their entire investment."

The other reporter acknowledges that these people seemed desperate.

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