Atiquilla Kousha claimed he would be persecuted in Afghanistan

School teacher Atiquilla Kousha, 57, said he would starve himself to death unless the Home Office allowed him to stay in Swansea.

He claimed that three of his children have been killed in Afghanistan - and if he returns - a similar fate would await him.

Soon after Mr Kousha began his protest earlier this week, a Home Office statement said it was deeply regrettable that someone would choose to take this kind of action - but stressed that it would have no impact on the outcome of the case.

His 17-year-old daughter Horai reported that he had been rapidly losing strength.

"If we go back they will kill my father. But if he goes I will follow," she said.

"He's the only one I have left," she added.

It's better to die here than there Horai Kousha

Mr Kousha is a communist and claimed that his political beliefs and opposition to Islam led to his imprisonment and torture by both the Mujahadeen and the Taliban.

After the Taliban were overthrown he said that he returned to Kabul believing he would be safe.

But he apparently fell foul of a war lord who wanted his daughter to marry one of his sons.

When the family resisted, he claimed his daughter and her two brothers were killed.

The family then fled Afghanistan for Pakistan last year and travelled to the UK by truck.

Horai said she is particularly concerned for her father's welfare as he has had part of his stomach removed and needs to eat every three hours.

She said she did not want him to die - but she understood his view that it was more honourable to die at his own hands than to be killed by enemies in Afghanistan.

"It's better to die here than there.

"No one can take that right from us," she said.