UK launches ad campaign to dissuade Iraqi Kurds from migrating

Several refugee groups have stated that a UK government advertising campaign targeting the Iraqi Kurdistan region, aimed at warning local residents against attempting to reach the UK to seek asylum, is unlikely to be effective. These groups believe that advertising alone is insufficient to deter people from risking their lives in pursuit of a better life. The underlying issues prompting migration need to be addressed for any campaign to have a significant impact.

The online campaign, launched by the UK Home Office in Sorani Kurdish, seeks to discourage people from attempting to cross the English Channel from France. This route is fraught with danger, and in 2024, 36,816 people have already chosen it, with 69 tragically losing their lives. Over 2,000 of those attempting to cross illegally were from Iraq. The advertisements emphasize the perils of illegal crossings, quoting warnings from those who have attempted it, stating that "people disappear at sea" and that the vessels are extremely overcrowded. The campaign aims to highlight the risks involved in such journeys.

In one video, an unidentified woman stated that she had been "promised a high-paying job but ended up as a slave." One of the advertisements reads: "Immigration will tell you that illegally immigrating to the UK is a risk-free and easy task that can provide you with a happy life. But this is far from the truth." In recent years, immigration has been a hot-button issue in the UK, with frequent incidents of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel sparking panic about "illegal" entry. On March 2nd alone, 592 migrants crossed the busy shipping lanes in 11 boats, the highest single-day number this year. The government faces increasing pressure to address the issue of illegal immigration.

Ali Jalal, director of the Summit Foundation for Refugees and Displaced Affairs, told Middle East Eye that the advertising campaign will not be effective because Iraqi Kurds are inherently "deaf" to government-backed initiatives. "The reason for the increase in illegal immigration of Kurdish and Iraqi citizens is the continuous crises the country has faced in the past few years, and the lack of job opportunities in the public and private sectors, especially for young graduates of universities and colleges," he said. "Overall, there is no clear political future for Kurdistan and Iraq, which brings concerns and uncertainty to people who fear chaos and war in the region again." The lack of economic prospects and political stability drives people to seek opportunities elsewhere.

In recent years, the Iraqi Kurdistan region has been a major source of migrants heading to the UK and throughout Europe. The semi-autonomous region suffers from high levels of unemployment, corruption, and wage arrears. People are also fleeing the country due to threats from armed groups and repression by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Over the past few years, some travel agencies in Kurdistan have been advertising trips to the borders of Europe, from where people can pay smugglers thousands of dollars to be smuggled into Western Europe. The desperation for a better future fuels the demand for these illegal services.

Jalal stated that many Kurds choose the UK as their destination because the country is perceived as an "independent" nation outside of the EU's free travel zone. "Furthermore, compared to European countries, the UK has more illegal employment and opportunities – rejected asylum seekers have more space to hide without facing the law," he said. Last November, the UK and Iraq signed what they called a "world-first" security agreement to combat smuggling and enhance border security. The UK Home Office stated that the UK Integrated Security Fund would allocate approximately £300,000 ($390,000) for border training to combat organized immigration crime and drug trafficking. These measures aim to disrupt the activities of criminal networks facilitating illegal immigration.

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the agreement would help combat the "vile trade in human beings." Cooper said: "Smuggling gangs profit from dangerous small boat crossings, operating from northern France, Germany, across Europe and all the way back to Iraqi Kurdistan and beyond." "Organized criminals operate across borders, so law enforcement needs to as well." International cooperation is essential to effectively address the complex challenges of human trafficking and illegal immigration.

Rights groups and refugee campaigners in the UK have criticized successive governments for policies that restrict the ability of asylum seekers to reach the country through safe and legal routes. New guidance issued last month by the Labour government stated that anyone who enters the UK illegally and has experienced a dangerous journey will generally be refused citizenship. This has led some commentators to argue that the UK may be in breach of its obligations under the 1951 Refugee Convention. Restricting legal pathways can force vulnerable individuals to resort to dangerous and illegal methods of seeking asylum.

Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, stated: "No one would put themselves or their families at risk in small boats crossing the Channel unless the dangers they are fleeing are even greater than the dangers they face on these journeys." "The most effective way to break the smugglers' control is to stop refugees getting on the boats in the first place, and that means providing them with a legal route to claim asylum in the UK without having to cross the Channel." Providing safe and legal alternatives is crucial to deterring dangerous crossings and protecting vulnerable individuals seeking refuge.