Fixers/Translators and the Jeopardy they Face

Association with foreign media today subjects one to accusations of being a spy; an unofficial death sentence in many countries today. A death sentence which targets those working and having worked with foreigners.

Today in many areas of conflict whether Iraq, Afghanistan or other locales the fact that someone worked with photojournalists/journalists is no protection for them. Journalists today in many areas of conflict are no longer distinguished as journalists but as foreigners and often seen as spies. Thus, those having worked with them or currently working with them are in danger of kidnapping, torture, accusations of being spies and or death.

Many of us, if not all, have worked with fixers/translators, drivers from the countries where we have covered conflict. Further, today we have full understanding of the jeopardy these individuals whom work with us are placed in now that they are associated with foreigners.

Also, many of us know individuals who have been kidnapped, tortured and or killed or have fled their countries after being accused of working with foreigners.

The Committee to Protect Journalists fully documents the risks that fixers/translators/drivers and media workers face and the double jeopardy they find themselves in. However, this jeopardy often falls on deaf ears as countries throughout the world on now rewriting their asylum policies due to political pressures. For example, now that the common perception whether through media, ngos or political forces that Iraq is a safer place has been set in motion, many countries are turning down legitimate cases of fear of persecution because it is felt that one’s country and safer. This misconception will mean immediate death for those of our colleagues who have made it to asylum but may be forcibly returned because the political climate on asylum has shifted gears. Look at the example of Sweden, a country who took in an unproportionate number of asylum seekers considering its size. Yet, now three Migration Court of Appeal decisions in Sweden classify the situation in Iraq as “difficult circumstances” rather than an “internal armed conflict”. This also has paved the way for “forcible return.” According to the appeal court, the terrorist groups and armed militias currently operating in Iraq are not engaged in full-blown warfare either with the government or each other.

The Migration Court further pointed out that the number of deaths and violent incidents had decreased this year both in Baghdad and the rest of Iraq.

Thus, given the changing climate towards asylum seekers and given that we have the ability to ensure that immigration boards and others understand the risks face.

I ask the following on behalf of those we have worked with in the past, in present and in future. Please post your personal knowledge and understanding of the risks fixers/translators/drivers and media support workers face in areas of conflict such as Iraq/Afghanistan. Please give concrete examples to backup your words. This is vital, as the idea is to better educate immigration boards on behalf of asylum seekers who worked with the international media who now face persecution in their countries for this work. We are trying to put together case studies that will help to educate others as mentioned above so that when asylum seekers who worked as fixers/translators/drivers present their cases there is a better understanding of both the work they do and the risks they face.

by Sheryl Mendez at Thu May 08 14:54:32 UTC 2008 (ed. May 17 2008) Damascus, Syria | Bookmark this | Digg this |