The Reasons We Went Undercover to Uncover Crime in the Kurdish-origin Community

A pair of Kurdish men decided to go undercover to uncover a organization behind unlawful High Street enterprises because the criminals are damaging the reputation 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 United Kingdom for years.

Investigators uncovered that a Kurdish-linked criminal operation was operating convenience stores, hair salons and vehicle cleaning services across the UK, and wanted to learn more about how it operated and who was taking part.

Armed with hidden recording devices, Ali and Saman presented themselves as Kurdish refugee applicants with no right to work, attempting to acquire and operate a mini-mart from which to sell unlawful tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.

They were able to reveal how easy it is for someone in these circumstances to establish and manage a business on the main street in full view. Those participating, we found, compensate Kurds who have British citizenship to register the businesses in their identities, enabling to deceive the authorities.

Saman and Ali also were able to discreetly film one of those at the heart of the network, who stated that he could eliminate official penalties of up to £60,000 encountered those employing illegal employees.

"Personally aimed to contribute in uncovering these illegal activities [...] to loudly proclaim that they do not characterize Kurdish people," says Saman, a ex- refugee applicant himself. The reporter entered the UK illegally, having escaped from the Kurdish region - a territory that spans the borders of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria but which is not officially recognized as a nation - because his life was at danger.

The journalists recognize that tensions over unauthorized immigration are significant in the UK and state they have both been concerned that the investigation could worsen conflicts.

But Ali states that the unauthorized employment "harms the whole Kurdish community" and he believes driven to "reveal it [the criminal network] out into broad daylight".

Furthermore, the journalist says he was worried the publication could be used by the extreme right.

He explains this especially struck him when he discovered that radical right campaigner a prominent activist's national unity rally was taking place in the capital on one of the weekends he was operating secretly. Banners and flags could be seen at the rally, displaying "we want our country back".

Both journalists have both been observing social media feedback to the investigation from inside the Kurdish-origin population and explain it has caused intense frustration for certain individuals. One Facebook post they spotted stated: "How can we identify and track [the undercover reporters] to kill them like dogs!"

Another called for their families in the Kurdish region to be slaughtered.

They have also seen accusations that they were spies for the British government, and traitors to fellow Kurdish people. "Both of us are not informants, and we have no desire of damaging the Kurdish community," Saman states. "Our objective is to expose those who have damaged its standing. Both journalists are proud of our Kurdish-origin heritage and deeply concerned about the actions of such persons."

Most of those seeking asylum claim they are escaping political persecution, according to an expert from the Refugee Workers Cultural Association, a organization that assists refugees and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom.

This was the case for our undercover reporter one investigator, who, when he initially came to the UK, experienced challenges for years. He states he had to survive on under £20 a per week while his asylum claim was processed.

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

"Realistically stating, this isn't adequate to support a respectable existence," says Mr Avicil from the the organization.

Because refugee applicants are mostly prevented from working, he feels numerous are open to being manipulated and are essentially "compelled to work in the unofficial market for as little as three pounds per hourly rate".

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: "We are unapologetic for denying refugee applicants the authorization to be employed - doing so would generate an motivation for individuals to migrate to the United Kingdom illegally."

Asylum applications can take a long time to be processed with almost a one-third requiring more than 12 months, according to official figures from the late March this year.

The reporter explains working without authorization in a vehicle cleaning service, barbershop or convenience store would have been extremely straightforward to achieve, but he explained to the team he would not have done that.

Nonetheless, he states that those he interviewed working in illegal convenience stores during his investigation seemed "confused", especially those whose refugee application has been refused and who were in the appeal stage.

"These individuals spent their entire funds to migrate to the UK, they had their asylum denied and now they've forfeited their entire investment."

The other reporter agrees that these individuals seemed in dire straits.

"If [they] state you're forbidden to work - but also [you]