Over the past year, Leigh Day & Co has been acting for a growing number of Iraqi interpreters who were employed by the British Army in Basra, and now face persecution and risk of death.

Their plight was portrayed in the Al Jazeera documentary “Betrayed in Basra,” which was screened on Tuesday 28 January 2009. Al Jazeera have been following some of the interpreters, and their relatives, who have instructed Leigh Day & Co in their quest for justice. The programme, which also features interviews with Leigh Day & Co lawyers, Jamie Beagent and Sapna Malik, is available for viewing on the Al Jazeera website.

On 30 October 2007, in the face of growing media concern at the plight of the interpreters, the British government announced the “Locally Engaged Staff Assistance Scheme.” Under the scheme, former interpreters could apply either to seek refuge in the UK through resettlement or take up a financial package. However, the scheme laid down very narrow qualifying criteria,  meaning that a vast proportion of those at risk are excluded.

Last year, Leigh Day & Co sought permission to judicially review the scheme on  behalf of several interpreters whose applications had been rejected, on the grounds that its acceptance criteria were arbitrary. Regrettably, the High Court refused permission to review, leaving large volumes of interpreters in dire straits in Iraq or neighbouring countries.

Leigh Day & Co have by now been instructed by over 50 interpreters, or relatives of murdered interpreters, living in destitution and under threat of persecution.  Where it appears that the administrators of the scheme have incorrectly rejected any of our clients, we have made representations on their behalf and have been successful on several occasions.

However, many of those contacting us clearly fall outside the scheme’s narrow criteria. They are looking for compensation from the British Government for failing in its duty of care owed to them or their deceased relatives. It is anticipated that a group action will be launched on their behalf in the High Court in London this Spring.

For further information, please contact Jamie Beagent on 020 7650 1240 or Sapna Malik on 020 7650 1222.