Erbil workers recall harrowing 'revenge' attack after uncovering human trafficking ring

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Ram Lay's problems had only just begun when he made a startling discovery on social media. In October 2019, some acquaintances told him that there was a girl who needed help after being trafficked into Erbil by a criminal network. Trusting him to help, the acquaintances asked for Lay's help in getting the girl to safety.  

The young woman, Rasha Pal, 22, is from the city of Moga, in India's Punjab state. She came to the Kurdistan Region in January 2019, lured by the promise of a $2,000 salary. But once she arrived, she found herself in slavery-like conditions: forced to work long hours for a household in the affluent Erbil neighborhood of Dream City. 

"I came home from work after 18 hours every day. No time to shower and rest, just cleaning and cleaning," Rasha told Rudaw English, who reached her via Skype.  

Essentially a captive, Rasha says that she was only allowed to speak to her family once a week, on Fridays. "I was paid only $200 a month. When I asked why, they would say 'go and to talk to the guy who we bought you from'," she said.

When he learned about Rasha's situation, Lay called his friend Baba Singh, and together they went to the authorities to report an incident of human trafficking. The story ended well for the girl, who was rescued and returned to India — but not for the men who reported it. They say that they were attacked by a gang of over 30 men, allegedly in retaliation for reporting the case to the authorities.

"They attacked me with a large knife. They came at me from my back and front," Lay told Rudaw. Originally from India's Punjab state, Lay, 28, has been living in Erbil since August 2019 and works in the kitchen at a Hardee's chain restaurant in Erbil.  

He points at the scars across his body as he recalls the attack that left him and five other men bloodied and injured in Erbil's Ankawa neighborhood, typically thought to be one of the city's safest.

Singh, 31, also from Punjab, and resident of Erbil for 10 years, claims that the men lured them to the spot of the attack with promises to reconcile the dispute, so they came in a group of six, for safety. That was when four cars full of men came and ambushed them with knives and shovels.

Police confirmed to Rudaw that they have arrested seven people, and are still searching for four others. The six workers say they have filed a lawsuit against the attackers.

Singh says alleged traffickers were angered by his report to the Indian consulate in Erbil about the girl's situation, which resulted in them helping facilitate Rasha's return to India in March, along with ten other women. 

Months later, the men contacted them to invite them to dinner at Ankawa Mall on June 5, and then attacked them in the parking lot.  

"They asked us to reconcile with them and resolve the issue. None of them are legal workers. They do not have residencies. They drink alcohol and take pills. Where is the company? The police did not come," said

Singh, adding that eyewitnesses called the police an hour later.  Lay says the attackers only stopped hitting him when they pierced his skin. "When blood was shed, they left me and went to attack another. I fainted," recalled Lay.

Hardip Singh, another man injured in this alleged attack, says his hand has been broken. "The doctor has told me that my hand must be wrapped for a month," said Hardip.

Arif Hito, a senior official from Kurdistan Regional Government's ministry of social affairs told Rudaw: "When a foreign worker winds up in trouble, we see how they entered the Kurdistan Region. It's either through an investment project or a company. In both cases, their rights are preserved because as per their contract the company that invited them is responsible for the safety of the workers and should provide them with a place to stay, from the day they enter, to the day they leave Kurdistan Region."

There are 7,000 legally-registered foreign workers in the Kurdistan Region, according to Hito. 

Mohammed Tahir, head of the Organization for Defending Foreign Workers, condemned the attack and called on the relevant authorities to "take very serious measures." Tahir estimates that there are more than 3,000 illegal workers in the Kurdistan Region, who arrive either through smuggling routes via neighboring countries, or who overstay their tourist visas. 

Singh claims they discovered Rasha was brought into the Region by a company, which then "sold" her to another company with a higher price. Singh and his friends are all legal workers in the Region. 

India's consulate in Erbil declined to comment on the matter.