Iraqis who risked their lives working for Britain have been cleared to resettle in the UK, with the first families expected to arrive next month, The Times can reveal.

The first wave will include seven former interpreters who have met the strict criteria for resettlement and have chosen to come to Britain. Many others have accepted cash payments to stay in Iraq or decided to resettle in a neighbouring country such as Jordan or Syria.

After the plight of interpreters was highlighted by The Times, the Government agreed to offer sanctuary to those who had received death threats from militias who accused them of collaborating with the enemy.

Almost 160 of those eligible to relocate have chosen one-off cash payments instead of moving to Britain as part of assistance announced by David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, in October.

Hundreds of Iraq interpreters rebuffed by UK

Nearly half of applications to settle in Britain have been rejected by the MoD already despite safety fears

BACKGROUND

• Story of brothers who worked for the British

• I’ve no regrets, says interpreter

• What’s Arabic for ‘we’ll stand by you’?

• Abandoned: the 91 Iraqis who risked all

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A Ministry of Defence official suggested yesterday that the decision of many Iraqis to stay at home reflected the improving security situation. He said: “They are making the decision that it is safe to stay in Iraq and to use the money to improve their lives.” Each Iraqi will receive about £3,300.

But some interpreters accused the Government of making the procedure to apply for new lives in Britain too complicated and slow, to put pressure on people to take the money as an easier option. “They don’t want us to enter the UK for many reasons,” one interpreter said.

Hundreds have been left disappointed. Out of a total of 775 Iraqis who applied for the help, 360 were turned down. Applicants had to prove that they worked for the British for at least 12 consecutive months. Fifty had never worked for the British.

Former staff are entitled to the money or to apply for resettlement in Britain through a scheme run in partnership with the Gateway programme, the UN refugee agency.

Of 273 people who have been processed so far, 110 have chosen to come to Britain. Before being able to come here the interpreters and their families had first to travel to a third country, typically Jordan or Syria, to apply formally for refugee status.

Some will arrive in the coming weeks, an MoD official said. The Home Office would be responsible for taking care of them, finding them housing and ensuring that they received financial help.

Months of waiting for news have taken a toll on many of the interpreters. Many live as virtual prisoners in their own homes in Basra or on the floors of relatives’ homes, terrified of being killed by militiamen if they go outside.

“I really need to start a new life,” an interpreter told The Times in an e-mail. “It will be my salvation if I get asylum in the UK, for my suffering in Iraq is endless.”

Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, who was in Iraq yesterday, said that it took time to assess each application. “We have processed over 250 of them since we made the announcement of the policy to treat these people in a way I think we should and respond to the circumstances that they are in after the service that they have given us,” he told The Times.

“We are working our way through this process. It is right that we do it in a way that recognises the security challenges that there are for the individuals that are involved.”

One interpreter’s wife and two young children, forced to flee their home in Basra because of militia threats, were kidnapped outside Baghdad on Sunday. He managed to get them free but the family is traumatised.

“I say thank you to the British Government for the prize which it offered someone who served them exceptionally for the last five years,” the interpreter said bitterly. He added that all he ever wanted was for his wife and children to be safe. “My wife is now under the special care of a private doctor, while we hide in another province,” he told The Times.

Interpreters also said that the chance of a direct ticket to Britain – separate to the Gateway programme – is only available to anyone who was still working for the British in August. They must since been made redundant or been forced to quit because of exceptional circumstances.

The MoD said that 64 people so far were eligible for this help but only six were opting to go in Britain. The other 58 have asked for cash payments.

Lost in translation

August 7 The Times reveals that 91 interpreters have been told they will be left behind when Britain withdraws from Basra . Denmark and the US, in contrast, offered asylum to their Iraqi employees. William Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, says: “As a matter of honour, we have to look after them”

August 8 Gordon Brown promises a review of asylum applications lodged by interpreters

August 12 An interpreter claims that about 60 colleagues have been killed working for the British

September 2 Britain begins withdrawal from central Basra

September 13 A commander in the Iraqi Basra security force advises all interpreters to leave because their lives are in danger

September 16 A man believed to be an interpreter is beaten in front of his pregnant wife and killed

October 9 David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, announces a package of assistance for interpreters . They are offered the option to resettle in Britain or a financial settlement amounting to one month’s salary for every two months employed, up to a maximum of 12 months’ pay

Source: Times archives

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