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

Two Kurdish-background individuals consented to operate secretly to reveal a operation behind unlawful High Street businesses because the lawbreakers are damaging the standing of Kurds in the United Kingdom, they explain.

The pair, who we are calling Ali and Saman, are Kurdish reporters who have both resided lawfully in the United Kingdom for many years.

Investigators found that a Kurdish crime network was operating mini-marts, hair salons and car washes the length of the United Kingdom, and wanted to discover more about how it worked and who was involved.

Armed with secret recording devices, Saman and Ali posed as Kurdish refugee applicants with no right to be employed, attempting to acquire and run a small shop from which to sell contraband cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.

They were successful to reveal how easy it is for an individual in these conditions to set up and manage a commercial operation on the commercial area in full view. The individuals involved, we found, pay Kurds who have UK residency to legally establish the enterprises in their names, helping to deceive the officials.

Ali and Saman also succeeded to discreetly film one of those at the core of the operation, who stated that he could eliminate government penalties of up to £60,000 faced those using illegal employees.

"I sought to contribute in revealing these unlawful operations [...] to loudly proclaim that they don't speak for our community," explains Saman, a former refugee applicant himself. The reporter entered the country illegally, having escaped from the Kurdish region - a territory that straddles the boundaries of multiple Middle Eastern countries but which is not officially recognized as a state - because his safety was at threat.

The reporters admit that disagreements over illegal migration are elevated in the United Kingdom and state they have both been worried that the investigation could worsen hostilities.

But the other reporter states that the unauthorized labor "harms the whole Kurdish-origin community" and he feels driven to "bring it [the criminal network] out into broad daylight".

Additionally, the journalist explains he was concerned the coverage could be exploited by the radical right.

He says this especially struck him when he realized that far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson's Unite the Kingdom rally was occurring in London on one of the weekends he was working covertly. Signs and banners could be seen at the gathering, showing "we want our nation returned".

Both journalists have both been tracking online feedback to the investigation from inside the Kurdish community and say it has generated strong anger for certain individuals. One social media message they found stated: "How can we locate and locate [the undercover reporters] to attack them like dogs!"

A different urged their relatives in Kurdistan to be slaughtered.

They have also encountered accusations that they were informants for the UK government, and traitors to fellow Kurdish people. "Both of us are not spies, and we have no desire of hurting the Kurdish population," Saman states. "Our objective is to expose those who have compromised its image. Both journalists are honored of our Kurdish-origin heritage and extremely concerned about the behavior of such persons."

Most of those seeking asylum state they are escaping politically motivated oppression, according to an expert from the a refugee support organization, a non-profit that helps asylum seekers and refugee applicants in the UK.

This was the situation for our covert journalist one investigator, who, when he initially arrived to the United Kingdom, experienced challenges for many years. He says he had to live on under £20 a per week while his refugee application was processed.

Refugee applicants now get approximately £49 a per week - or nine pounds ninety-five if they are in accommodation which provides meals, according to government regulations.

"Realistically stating, this is not sufficient to sustain a dignified lifestyle," explains Mr Avicil from the the organization.

Because asylum seekers are mostly prevented from employment, he thinks a significant number are vulnerable to being manipulated and are effectively "compelled to work in the unofficial market for as low as £3 per hour".

A spokesperson for the authorities commented: "The government do not apologize for not granting refugee applicants the authorization to work - doing so would establish an reason for people to come to the UK without authorization."

Asylum applications can take years to be decided with nearly a one-third requiring over 12 months, according to official data from the spring this current year.

Saman states working without authorization in a vehicle cleaning service, barbershop or mini-mart would have been extremely easy to achieve, but he told the team he would not have done that.

However, he explains that those he interviewed employed in illegal convenience stores during his investigation seemed "disoriented", notably those whose refugee application has been refused and who were in the legal challenge.

"They used their entire funds to travel to the United Kingdom, they had their refugee application denied and now they've forfeited everything."

Ali agrees that these individuals seemed desperate.

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