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

Two Kurdish-background individuals decided to operate secretly to uncover a operation behind illegal commercial establishments because the lawbreakers are negatively affecting the standing of Kurdish people in the Britain, they state.

The two, who we are referring to as Ali and Saman, are Kurdish reporters who have both resided lawfully in the UK for many years.

The team uncovered that a Kurdish illegal enterprise was running mini-marts, barbershops and vehicle cleaning services the length of Britain, and sought to find out more about how it worked and who was taking part.

Equipped with secret cameras, Saman and Ali presented themselves as Kurdish refugee applicants with no authorization to work, seeking to buy and manage a convenience store from which to trade contraband tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.

The investigators were able to reveal how straightforward it is for a person in these situations to start and manage a enterprise on the High Street in plain sight. Those involved, we found, pay Kurds who have UK residency to register the enterprises in their names, enabling to mislead the officials.

Saman and Ali also were able to discreetly record one of those at the heart of the network, who claimed that he could eliminate government fines of up to £60k imposed on those using illegal laborers.

"I sought to play a role in uncovering these unlawful practices [...] to loudly proclaim that they don't represent our community," states one reporter, a ex- refugee applicant personally. Saman came to the country illegally, having fled the Kurdish region - a region that covers the borders of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria but which is not officially recognized as a nation - because his well-being was at risk.

The reporters recognize that conflicts over illegal immigration are elevated in the United Kingdom and state they have both been concerned that the inquiry could intensify conflicts.

But the other reporter states that the illegal labor "harms the whole Kurdish population" and he considers compelled to "reveal it [the criminal network] out into the open".

Furthermore, Ali explains he was anxious the coverage could be exploited by the radical right.

He states this especially struck him when he discovered that extreme right campaigner a prominent activist's national unity march was happening in London on one of the Saturdays and Sundays he was operating covertly. Signs and flags could be observed at the protest, reading "we want our country returned".

Both journalists have both been observing social media reaction to the exposé from inside the Kurdish population and explain it has sparked strong frustration for some. One Facebook post they spotted said: "In what way can we identify and locate [the undercover reporters] to harm them like animals!"

Another called for their relatives in Kurdistan to be attacked.

They have also seen accusations that they were agents for the British government, and traitors to fellow Kurds. "Both of us are not spies, and we have no intention of hurting the Kurdish population," Saman states. "Our goal is to uncover those who have harmed its standing. We are proud of our Kurdish identity and deeply concerned about the actions of such individuals."

The majority of those seeking refugee status say they are fleeing political persecution, according to Ibrahim Avicil from the a charitable organization, a organization that assists asylum seekers and asylum seekers in the UK.

This was the case for our covert journalist Saman, who, when he initially arrived to the United Kingdom, faced difficulties for many years. He explains he had to live on less than twenty pounds a week while his refugee application was reviewed.

Asylum seekers now get approximately £49 a week - or £9.95 if they are in housing which includes meals, according to government regulations.

"Honestly stating, this isn't sufficient to maintain a dignified existence," explains Mr Avicil from the the organization.

Because asylum seekers are generally prevented from employment, he feels a significant number are vulnerable to being taken advantage of and are practically "obligated to labor in the black economy for as little as £3 per hourly rate".

A official for the government department said: "We do not apologize for denying asylum seekers the authorization to be employed - granting this would generate an reason for individuals to migrate to the United Kingdom without authorization."

Asylum cases can require a long time to be resolved with nearly a one-third taking over one year, according to official figures from the end of March this current year.

Saman says working illegally in a car wash, barbershop or mini-mart would have been extremely straightforward to achieve, but he explained to the team he would never have done that.

Nevertheless, he states that those he interviewed employed in illegal convenience stores during his research seemed "disoriented", especially those whose asylum claim has been refused and who were in the appeals process.

"These individuals expended their entire savings to migrate to the United Kingdom, they had their asylum rejected and now they've lost everything."

The other reporter concurs that these people seemed hopeless.

"When [they] say you're not allowed to be employed - but simultaneously [you]