Interpreters threatened with murder by militia
By John Bynorth, Home Affairs Editor

IRAQIS threatened with murder by militia for working with the British claim that colleagues have been refused entry to a UK scheme that aims to help people start new lives in Glasgow.

Around 20 interpreters, having worked at the Basra air base and British embassy in Baghdad for 12 months or more, have won automatic leave to remain in the UK under the "direct entry" initiative to get locally engaged workers out of the country.

On Tuesday, more staff will arrive at Glasgow Airport despite claims that some of those at risk have been turned down several times because the Foreign Office refuses to accept that they and their families have been threatened.

The claims follow last week's launch of the Scottish Middle Eastern Council, which was set up to support the Iraqis' integration. It followed talks between Glasgow City Council and the Home Office which looked at ways of doing more to help the Iraqis settle permanently in the city.

Six Iraqi victims of the militia have broken their silence to talk about why they had to leave their country. They also said many more want to follow.

Ibrahim (not his real name) interpreted for army patrols and at the former coalition base, the Shatt-el-Arab Hotel, near Basra, where he was injured during a mortar attack.

He said: "I was turned down twice. I told the British that I was under threat, but they refused to believe me. Eventually, I was allowed to come to Scotland. Some people who apply for the scheme have been turned down many times."

Although many of those working with the British choose to stay on the base or in the green zone in Baghdad, Ali moved his family four times before moving to Glasgow. He still cannot tell relatives in Iraq that he is in Glasgow in case the militants find out and kill them.

He said: "Our families lived outside the green zone and we were at risk when we went home. The hardest bit was driving from home to the embassy, a journey that should take 20 minutes, but took me two hours because I had to constantly change my route."

Ali refused the UK government's offer of financial assistance to relocate to a neighbouring country, such as Syria, Jordan or Egypt. He said Iraqis had few rights there compared with Britain.

The danger was brought home to Shahid, 43, an interpreter, after 17 colleagues were among 50 shot dead by the Jaish al-Mahdi militia at an illegal check-point in Basra in 2006. He said the al-Mahdi and al-Quddus Palestine groups attacked his house and threatened to kill his family.

Shahid, who brought his two sons, aged 13 and 16, and two daughters, aged six and nine months, to Glasgow, said: "The British tried to protect us but they cannot put gates up in front of all the houses of the families of people working with them.

"Another 12 of my fellow interpreters died after they were tortured, their bones broken and had acid thrown on them. I want people to know how interpreters and the other Iraqis working for the British are suffering because the army could not do their jobs without these people."

Jamil, who worked at Basra air base, moved to Glasgow after arriving in the UK with his family in July. His was one of two groups to be given safe passage.

The 29-year-old said: "The decision to leave your country is very difficult, but it must be better than the other choice. The militia killed my friend's son and I have left the rest of my family. I am worried about them all the time, but I had to leave Iraq. At least I don't have to keep looking over my shoulder in Glasgow."

John Donaldson, head of Glasgow City Council's immigration services, said: "We want people to have more information, because it is a big cultural shock and we can integrate them better and help them start their new lives."

John Wilkes, chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, said: "Community organisations such as this are crucial in helping people from countries in conflict rebuild their lives."