The Reasons We Chose to Go Undercover to Reveal Crime in the Kurdish-origin Community

Two Kurdish men decided to work covertly to expose a organization behind unlawful High Street establishments because the criminals are damaging the standing of Kurds in the UK, they say.

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

Investigators discovered that a Kurdish-linked criminal operation was operating mini-marts, barbershops and car washes the length of the UK, and wanted to discover more about how it operated and who was involved.

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

The investigators were able to reveal how simple it is for someone in these conditions to establish and run a business on the main street in plain sight. Those involved, we discovered, pay Kurdish individuals who have UK residency to register the enterprises in their identities, enabling to deceive the government agencies.

Saman and Ali also were able to covertly record one of those at the heart of the network, who stated that he could erase official fines of up to £60,000 imposed on those hiring illegal laborers.

"Personally wanted to play a role in revealing these illegal practices [...] to say that they don't characterize us," states one reporter, a former asylum seeker personally. Saman entered the UK without authorization, having fled Kurdistan - a area that spans the boundaries of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria but which is not officially recognized as a state - because his life was at danger.

The investigators acknowledge that disagreements over illegal immigration are elevated in the United Kingdom and state they have both been concerned that the inquiry could inflame conflicts.

But the other reporter states that the illegal labor "harms the whole Kurdish-origin population" and he considers obligated to "bring it [the criminal network] out into public view".

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

He says this particularly struck him when he noticed that far-right activist a prominent activist's national unity march was taking place in London on one of the Saturdays and Sundays he was operating undercover. Signs and flags could be observed at the protest, showing "we want our country returned".

Saman and Ali have both been observing social media reaction to the exposé from inside the Kurdish-origin population and explain it has generated intense outrage for certain individuals. One Facebook comment they observed said: "How can we locate and track [the undercover reporters] to harm them like dogs!"

A different called for their relatives in Kurdistan to be harmed.

They have also encountered claims that they were agents for the British authorities, and betrayers to other Kurdish people. "We are not informants, and we have no intention of hurting the Kurdish population," Saman says. "Our aim is to expose those who have damaged its reputation. We are proud of our Kurdish-origin heritage and profoundly troubled about the behavior of such persons."

Most of those seeking asylum say they are fleeing politically motivated discrimination, according to Ibrahim Avicil from the a charitable organization, a charity that helps asylum seekers and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom.

This was the scenario for our covert journalist Saman, who, when he first came to the UK, faced difficulties for years. He says he had to survive on less than twenty pounds a week while his asylum claim was processed.

Refugee applicants now receive approximately £49 a per week - or £9.95 if they are in accommodation which provides meals, according to government policies.

"Practically speaking, this is not enough to maintain a respectable lifestyle," says Mr Avicil from the the organization.

Because refugee applicants are mostly restricted from employment, he believes many are susceptible to being manipulated and are effectively "obligated to work in the unofficial market for as little as three pounds per hour".

A spokesperson for the government department stated: "We are unapologetic for denying refugee applicants the authorization to be employed - doing so would generate an incentive for individuals to migrate to the United Kingdom illegally."

Refugee cases can require a long time to be decided with nearly a one-third taking over one year, according to official data from the end of March this year.

The reporter says working illegally in a vehicle cleaning service, barbershop or convenience store would have been quite straightforward to accomplish, but he informed us he would not have done that.

Nonetheless, he says that those he interviewed laboring in illegal mini-marts during his work seemed "lost", particularly those whose asylum claim has been denied and who were in the legal challenge.

"They expended their entire money to migrate to the UK, they had their refugee application denied and now they've forfeited their entire investment."

Ali acknowledges that these individuals seemed hopeless.

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