The Reasons We Went Undercover to Reveal Criminal Activity in the Kurdish-origin Community

A pair of Kurdish individuals decided to go undercover to uncover a operation behind unlawful High Street establishments because the criminals are damaging the standing of Kurdish people in the UK, they explain.

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

The team uncovered that a Kurdish crime network was running mini-marts, hair salons and car washes the length of Britain, and aimed to find out more about how it functioned and who was taking part.

Equipped with secret cameras, Ali and Saman presented themselves as Kurdish asylum seekers with no permission to be employed, attempting to purchase and manage a mini-mart from which to distribute unlawful cigarettes and vapes.

The investigators were able to discover how simple it is for an individual in these situations to start and manage a commercial operation on the main street in full view. Those participating, we found, pay Kurds who have UK residency to legally establish the enterprises in their identities, enabling to fool the officials.

Saman and Ali also managed to covertly film one of those at the heart of the network, who claimed that he could eliminate official sanctions of up to £60k encountered those employing unauthorized laborers.

"Personally wanted to participate in uncovering these unlawful practices [...] to loudly proclaim that they don't characterize Kurdish people," states Saman, a former asylum seeker himself. The reporter came to the United Kingdom without authorization, having escaped from Kurdistan - a area that straddles the boundaries of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria but which is not internationally recognised as a nation - because his well-being was at risk.

The journalists recognize that tensions over illegal migration are high in the United Kingdom and state they have both been anxious that the investigation could intensify hostilities.

But the other reporter says that the unauthorized labor "negatively affects the entire Kurdish-origin population" and he feels compelled to "expose it [the criminal network] out into public view".

Separately, Ali mentions he was anxious the coverage could be used by the far-right.

He says this particularly impressed him when he realized that far-right campaigner a prominent activist's national unity march was occurring in the capital on one of the weekends he was operating covertly. Placards and banners could be observed at the rally, showing "we demand our nation returned".

Saman and Ali have both been monitoring online reaction to the investigation from within the Kurdish population and explain it has sparked strong frustration for certain individuals. One Facebook message they found stated: "How can we locate and track [the undercover reporters] to attack them like dogs!"

Another called for their relatives in Kurdistan to be slaughtered.

They have also encountered accusations that they were informants for the British authorities, and traitors to other Kurds. "Both of us are not informants, and we have no aim of harming the Kurdish community," Saman says. "Our aim is to uncover those who have damaged its reputation. We are honored of our Kurdish-origin identity and deeply concerned about the behavior of such individuals."

The majority of those seeking refugee status say they are escaping politically motivated oppression, according to Ibrahim Avicil from the Refugee Workers Cultural Association, a charity that helps refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.

This was the case for our covert journalist Saman, who, when he initially came to the UK, struggled for many years. He says he had to survive on less than £20 a per week while his refugee application was reviewed.

Refugee applicants now are provided approximately forty-nine pounds a per week - or nine pounds ninety-five if they are in shelter which offers food, according to Home Office policies.

"Honestly stating, this isn't adequate to maintain a dignified life," states the expert from the the organization.

Because refugee applicants are largely prevented from employment, he thinks a significant number are vulnerable to being taken advantage of and are effectively "forced to labor in the black economy for as little as £3 per hour".

A representative for the government department commented: "We are unapologetic for refusing to grant refugee applicants the right to be employed - doing so would establish an reason for individuals to migrate to the UK without authorization."

Asylum cases can take years to be decided with almost a one-third taking over a year, according to government figures from the spring this current year.

The reporter states working illegally in a vehicle cleaning service, barbershop or convenience store would have been very easy to achieve, but he explained to us he would not have done that.

Nevertheless, he states that those he encountered working in unauthorized mini-marts during his research seemed "confused", notably those whose refugee application has been rejected and who were in the appeals process.

"These individuals spent all of their money to come to the United Kingdom, they had their asylum refused and now they've lost everything."

Ali concurs that these people seemed desperate.

"When [they] state you're prohibited to be employed - but simultaneously [you]