ASYLUM seekers in Pendle attended a special ceremony yesterday where they lit candles and remembered loved ones.

A small group of the hundreds of asylum seekers in the borough met at the Every Street drop-in centre to mark World Human Rights Day and the International Festival of Lights. The event was also aimed at raising understanding about the plight of asylum seekers and their troubled countries and at recruiting new volunteers.

Rev Sally Thomas, of the Building Bridges Support Group, said: "Many of our asylum seekers would face imprisonment, torture or death if they were to return because they have had the courage to speak out against these harsh regimes.

"A large number of them are Kurdish people from Iraq who have been traumatised by Saddam Hussain's nerve gas massacres."

Foad Ahmed, 42, has lived in Nelson for a year after escaping from Iraq, where he left his mother and two sisters.

The former tailor is now working at McBrides factory in Burnley.

He said: "I am alone here. The people in northern Iraq are very scared. There have been sanctions there since 1991 and who pays the cost? The poor people. Since then I don't think Saddam Hussein has once felt sick about what is happening. It is just brutality against the Iraq people.

"I left Iraq because of political reasons. They don't like people to fight for a better life and equality and that's what I wanted to do."

Foad is hoping to go to Nelson and Colne College to improve his English.

Naseer Ahmad, 26, of Afghanistan, has no idea where his family are. He has been in Pendle for 11 months and is waiting for the result of his second application for asylum.

He said: "I have no options. I can't contact my family because I don't know where they are.

"When the Soviet Union left Afghanistan we thought there would be peace but it got worse."

Naseer said the Taliban did not like the fact that some members of his family had married Russians.

He said: "Children and adults were killed. It is extremely scary. They didn't investigate or have any evidence they would just say they are not Muslim and just kill them. I was a very lucky man to spend so long in jail and not be killed." Mehdi Khazaw, 29, and Mohammad, 25, both fled from Iran. They said they escaped for political reasons.

Mehdi, who was a chef in Iran, is working in a chocolate factory. He has two older brothers who are still in Iran.

Mohammad left behind his two brothers.

Anyone who is interested in offering support or donations can contact the Building Bridges office at 19 Market Square, Nelson, on 01282 719303.