Amnesty award for interpreter series
Current World News Comments (0)
The Iraqi interpreter tugged urgently at my sleeve as I was watching a group of British soldiers train Iraqi recruits at a base in southern Iraq.
“Please, can you help us?†he asked. I looked at him, puzzled. He continued: “The Danish are flying their interpreters back to Denmark where they will be safe. Our lives are also in danger because we work for the British. What is the British Government going to do for us?â€
I did not have a clue what he was talking about and, to be honest, was slightly irked at being distracted from my work. Fortunately, the interpreter persisted, telling me how a colleague had been gunned down weeks earlier by Shia militiamen who regard any Iraqi working for the British military a traitor who deserves to die. He was one of many to be killed.
This brief conversation led to The Times highlighting the plight of Iraqi interpreters who worked for the British military. The series prompted the Government to devise a new policy to offer financial assistance or asylum to its Iraqi staff, both former and current.
Last night, I received an Amnesty International award for this series – a great honour and very exciting. However, it remains a sorry fact that eight months after the aid package was announced most of the Iraqi interpreters who took the asylum option are still waiting for a plane ticket to Britain.
The first interpreter who approached me last July, opened my eyes to how people who risked their life to work alongside British soldiers were being targeted by militants as a result of their job, with no means of escape.
He introduced me to three other colleagues, each with stories to tell of intimidation, fear and despair, particularly in the wake of a decision by Denmark to airlift any Iraqi who had worked for its military to safety.
They all implored me to help. I remember looking at them and thinking, what the hell can I do? Will writing about this really prompt anyone in power to act?
admin @ June 19, 2008