EXCLUSIVE: 'I was tortured by the men who sentenced my Christian mother to death for blasphemy': Daughter of Asia Bibi on death row in Pakistan reveals her hell at hands of religious fanatics
- Asia Bibi was accused of making disparaging remarks about Mohammed
- Family were savagely beaten by villagers when allegations first made in 2009
- Daughter, then 9, came home from school to find her mother being abused
- Attackers shouted obscenities like 'mother f*****' and tore off her clothes
- Esham, now 14, told MailOnline: 'I still dream about day she was tortured'
- Other daughter, who has special needs, was also abused by furious mob
- Family has launched second court appeal to overturn the death sentence
Two young daughters of a Pakistani Christian woman on death row for 'blasphemy' today told how they were tortured by a mob of religious fanatics because of their mother's alleged comments.
Asia Bibi has been sentenced to hang in Pakistan after she was accused of making disparaging remarks about the prophet Mohammed during an argument.
While working as a berry picker in 2009, the 46-year-old got into a dispute with a group of Muslim women who objected to her drinking their water because, as a Christian, she was considered 'unclean'.
As a result of the initial allegations, the family were savagely beaten by angry villagers at their house and forced to go into hiding after receiving death threats.
Now, as the family launches a second court appeal against Ms Bibi's death sentence, her husband and two daughters have spoken exclusively to MailOnline about their horrendous ordeal and their lingering hope that she will be released in time for Christmas.
Her oldest daughter, Esham Masih, who was nine years old when the family came under attack, told how she came back from school one day to find her mother being abused by a gang of men.
'My friends told me that people were torturing my mother at the fields where she used to work,' she said.
'I rushed to the spot and found that she was being abused and tortured by men. They had even torn her clothes.'
Esham, now 14, ran back home to get her mother a new dress, but when she came back the gang had returned.
'I still dream of the day she was tortured and arrested. I could not sleep properly.
'The angry men came back and started torturing us both and tore down her clothes again.
Asham said the gang called her offensive Punjabi terms that translate roughly 'mother f*****' and 'sister f*****'.
When she asked one of her attackers for water, they instead smashed the glass against the wall to torment her.
'They dragged her to the centre of the village. We both were crying but there was nobody to listen to us.
'After half an hour or so, the police came and my mother asked me to go and find my father, who was hiding at my uncle's house.
'But he was too terrified to leave. I ran back and by that time police had taken my mother away.'
Ms Bibi's husband, Ashiq Masih, said his other daughter, 15-year-old Esha who has special needs, had also been abused.
'All those people who abused and tortured my wife knew me very well, but they did not respect anything,' he told MailOnline at his house in a Christian district of Lahore.
'They became so cruel. They even didn't spare my daughters and tortured them.
Bowing his head in shame, Mr Masih said: 'I was so afraid that day.
'I do not think it could have helped her or our family if I had tried to save her that day.
'I might also have ended up in jail as a blasphemy-accused and there would be no one to help my daughters.'
Mr Masih, who used to work at brick kiln as a labourer in his village, said their lives have been destroyed.
'I was born in that village. I spent almost 45 years of my life in that village. I had so many friends in that village but I do not want to go back there.'
'I have restricted my movement. I am afraid of being recognised as Asia's husband in public.
'I have almost stopped communicating with Muslims. I am afraid they could recognise me. Just imagine how tough it will be for my wife to live in prison.'
In November 2010 Ms Bibi was sentenced to death by a lower court, becoming the first woman in Pakistan's history to be given the death penalty for blasphemy.
Over the past four years Ms Bibi has languished in the high-security District Jail Seikhupura, 22 miles north-west of Lahore, before being moved to a more remote prison.
The shocking case hit global headlines after two prominent politicians who tried to help Ms Bibi were assassinated, one by his own bodyguard.
Lawyers showered the killer with rose petals when he appeared in court and the judge who convicted him of murder had to flee the country.
Ms Bibi's lawyer, Naeem Shakir, said her accusers have contradicted themselves many times since first raising their complaint.
Two witnesses allegedly involved in the incident did not appear in court, he said.
A Muslim prayer leader did appear, saying he did not witness the original altercation, but that Ms Bibi had confessed to the supposed crime in front of him.
Last week, despite international outrage and hundreds of thousands of people signing a petition for her release, Ms Bibi lost an appeal to have her sentence overturned, meaning she now faces death by hanging.
The decision of the Lahore High Court has thrust the family back into public spotlight, placing their safety in jeopardy once again.
'This is too dangerous for all of us', said Mr Masih. 'We have changed five residences during the last five years. The blasphemy accusation on my wife has ruined our family.
'I could not sleep properly after the decision of The Lahore High Court. We could be attacked or framed in similar kind of case.'
Human rights groups say Pakistan's blasphemy law is increasingly exploited by religious extremists as well as ordinary Pakistanis to settle personal scores.
The law does not define blasphemy and evidence might not be reproduced in court for fear of committing a fresh offence. There are also no penalties for false accusations.
Those accused are sometimes lynched on the spot. If they are arrested, police and the courts often allow trials to drag on for years, as in the case of Ms Bibi.
The delays tend to be caused because officials are afraid of being physically attacked if they release anyone they feel had been wrongly accused of blasphemy.
Only one person has been executed since Pakistan imposed a de facto moratorium on executions in 2008.
This year has seen a record number of blasphemy cases as well as increasing violence against the accused.
Ms Bibi - a farm worker from rural Punjab - released a memoir called 'Blasphemy' last year, in which she described her torment at not knowing how long she has left to live.
Talking about how she ended up being accused of blasphemy, she says: 'I drank water from a well belonging to Muslim women, using 'their' cup, in the burning heat of the midday sun.
Mr Masih believes his wife has been falsely accused simply because of her religion.
'My wife was framed in the charge of blasphemy only because of her faith.
'The day our house was attacked by an angry mob at our village, she was offered to convert to Islam to get out of trouble but she denied as she has not committed any crime.
'There is no pressure on her in jail to convert to Islam. Authorities, in fact, are somewhat helpful,' he said that he was hopeful to get justice from the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
He has called on the Pope and President Barack Obama to help secure the release of his wife.
'We need help from all quarters. Barack Obama should play a positive role and convince Pakistani government to ensure justice in Asia's case.'
The family have struggled to look after Esha, who has difficulties with her speech and walking, after her mother's arrest.
Speaking in broken words, Esha said: 'I miss my mother too much.'
Both sisters go to a private school being run by Joseph Nadeem, executive director Renaissance Education Foundation, a Christian educationist who has been helping the family since December 2010.
'Esham is a brilliant student, but she goes through spells of depression regularly,' said Mr Nadeem.
Esham, who visits her mother once a month in prison, said: 'It is tough living without her. I hope she would soon be released and would celebrate Christmas with us.
'I love my mother and miss her a lot. I request everybody to pray for her.'
Topic: Save Asia Bibi. The Rampant Terrorization of Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan