A Catholic woman says she never deny her Christian beliefs after she was held on death row for eight years.

Shagufta Kausar was arrested in July 2013 with her husband, Shafqat Masih for allegedly sending offensive texts about the Muslim Prophet Mohammad.

Despite torture and blackmail, she refused to deny her Christian beliefs.

Shagufta spoke with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) about her eight years on death row.

She said: “In jail, we were tortured. The officers told my husband that if he did not confess, they would rape me in front of him, and so he confessed, even though we were both innocent.

“We were in jail for eight months before a judge found us guilty and sentenced us to death.

“Our lawyer was not allowed to complete his closing arguments, and neither of us were heard. I fainted when I heard this judgement of death.”

Despite blackmail attempts to convert Shagufta to Islam who was released with her husband last July, she refused.

“The risen Lord Jesus Christ is my life and saviour”, Shagufta said.

“Several times I was told that if I converted to Islam my death sentence would be turned into life in prison, and that eventually I would be released. I always said no.

“I will never, ever change my religion and convert to Islam. I would rather be hanged than deny Jesus Christ.”