'Lost in translation' series
Updated on 14 June 2007
The story of former British army translators in exile form Iraq. As told by our foreign correspondent Jonathan Miller, and through the blogs of one man in hiding.
Lost in translation: one man's tale
"Every day I wake up in the morning and look through the window looking - 'is there someone watching me?' That's what I used to do back home in Basra when I woke up from sleep.
Today I got out of bed at nine o'clock. I have nothing to do, nothing to kill my time.
Every day I turn the television on watching world news particularly Basra and what is happening in Iraq, every day the situation is worse in all parts of Iraq. "
- Continue reading 'Lost in translation: one man's tale'
Lost in translation: another day in exile
"I always hoped the coalition forces wouldn't come and liberate us from the dictatorship and I believe this is a view shared by the vast majority of Iraqis.
Even in the time of Saddam we were safe - even if we could not insult him.
But now things have become worse. Now there are many dictators. When we talk badly of one of them we end up with a bullet in the head.
They do not have any mercy in their hearts and it seems that Allah has taken it away of them. Even Saddam was merciful to his people sometimes."
- Continue reading 'Lost in translation: another day in exile'
Lost in translation: the exile's friends
""Today, my close friend and room mate decided to return home after suffering for months as a home-sick exile.
We worked side-by-side with the British army in Basra. This cheerful guy could no longer bear being away from family, friends and, as he always says, his great country."
- Continue reading 'Lost in translation: the exile's friends'
Jonathan Miller's original report
For less than £10 a day, hundreds of Iraqis are putting their lives on the line as interpreters for the British Army in Basra. Many have now fled, having received death threats.
They claim they're being systematically targeted and murdered. The militias, jostling for control of Basra, consider them traitors. At least two have been killed this month.
Unlike the American government, which has announced plans to resettle 7,000 particularly vulnerable Iraqi refugees, the British government has made no such commitment.
- Watch Jonathan Miller's original report
