Families seek justice as trial of English Channel tragedy mastermind opens in Erbil

A trial has commenced in Erbil for an alleged Iraqi-Kurdish people smuggler, Bashdar, who is linked to the 2021 English Channel disaster. Bashdar, whose real name is Hajar Mina Abdullah, faces charges related to the smuggling operation that resulted in 31 deaths during the November 2021 crossing from France to Britain. He appeared in court in handcuffs, dressed in a beige shirt and a yellow vest marked "Erbil Police".

The case follows a French court's conviction of 13 men in September for involvement in the fatal crossing, which was the deadliest migrant shipwreck in the English Channel, with most victims being Iraqi Kurds. The disaster prompted investigations and prosecutions in France and the UK, with the Cranston Inquiry examining the UK's response and concluding that some deaths were avoidable due to failures in the response by authorities.

Bashdar was arrested in Iraq in October 2022, and his trial is part of wider efforts to pursue those responsible for the dangerous crossings between France and the UK. The Kurdistan region, UK, and France have cooperated on tackling smuggling networks, with the UK focusing on disrupting networks upstream through an international working group.

The trial in Erbil brings the case back to the Kurdistan region, where many of the victims and their families come from. Zana Mamand Mohammed, whose brother was among the victims, has been leading efforts by families in pursuit of justice. The families remain deeply affected by the ongoing legal process, which began almost five years ago.