UK treatment of Iraqis 'shameful'

By Lorna Gordon
Scotland correspondent, BBC News

Interpreters were offered asylum or a cash sum if they stayed in Iraq

A former defence chief has criticised the treatment of an Iraqi man, who was given the opportunity to settle in the UK after interpreting for the British Army.

BBC News discovered the man's family living in a run-down housing block in one of the most deprived areas of Glasgow, struggling to cope.

Lord Guthrie told the BBC he was "ashamed" at the conditions the man's family were living in.

The Iraqis were resettled as part of a £25m government scheme which offers indefinite leave to enter the UK or a cash sum to those who worked as civilians with the army.

Abdul told me he came to Britain to escape persecution from local militias who saw him as a traitor.

His job interpreting for the British Army cost him his home, all his family's possessions, and his son.

"They attacked my family and they kidnapped my son and they tortured my wife," he told me.

I am a bit ashamed that a country like ours treats people - or could be treating people who have been our allies, putting their necks on the line for us - just treating them like this Lord Guthrie

"She heard him calling for mercy and she heard five shots."

Abdul and his family were given no choice over where they ended up, and with their savings now diminished, they are struggling to cope on the financial assistance promised by the UK government.

Former chief of the defence staff Lord Guthrie said a "great debt" was owed to the work of local interpreters.

"I am a bit ashamed that a country like ours treats people - or could be treating people who have been our allies, putting their necks on the line for us - just treating them like this," he said.

"I do think we ought to treat them with respect, to make quite sure they're looked after properly, they have some dignity and we give them the chance to start a new life," he added.

Lives in danger

Within the next few days another group of eight Iraqis who were employed by the British - and their families - will be arriving in Glasgow.

The government has received more than 1,000 applications for assistance since the scheme was introduced.

Around half of those locally-employed Iraqi staff who are eligible have opted for financial help rather than resettlement.

A Home Office spokesman said under the programme, the families will be given a place to stay for three months and cash payments to support themselves and their families.

Lord Guthrie was chief of the defence staff between 1997 and 2001

Afterwards, they will be eligible for welfare benefits and helped to get a six-month tenancy, he added.

The Home Office told the BBC that housing provided for arriving Iraqis must reach a minimum standard.

Glasgow City Council, the spokesman said, offered to assist with the project and had previous experience helping refugees to integrate.

John Donaldson, head of immigration at the local authority, said Abdul was "happy" in his present location.

He added that, although his wife had been the victim of an instance of "loutish behaviour", the person involved was forced to apologise to the family by police.

"The area that they're living in has actually had a reduction in crime and is a perfectly safe area which has a history of taking refugees and has various refugee self-help support groups in the community," said Mr Donaldson.

The direct entry assistance scheme is intended to support those who worked for British forces and the Foreign Office in Iraq, in many cases putting their lives in danger.

Only those that were working on a date last August and had been doing so for more than one year are eligible.

Those that meet the criteria are being given the option of indefinite leave to remain in the UK or a financial package for themselves and their dependents.

The first former interpreters to take advantage of building a new life in Britain arrived at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire in April.