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A British mum was thrown into jail in Bahrain after being accused of cheating on her husband.

Hannah James – who has a four-year-old son with the man – was in prison in for a month where she survived on a diet of rice and water three times a week, according to her family.

Under Bahrain's Islamic sharia laws, adultery is considered a serious crime and Hannah was facing years behind bars.

The 26-year-old's family, from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, made a desperate appeal online for help to get her home.

They say she was accused of adultery after trying to leave the country when her husband Jassim Alhaddar became violent

(Image: Facebook) (Image: Facebook)

(Image: Facebook)

Her mum confirmed she has now been released from jail - but still cannot leave Bahrain for legal reasons.

Hannah's family has uploaded pictures to Facebook which they allege show injuries suffered at the hands of Alhaddar, who she met while working in Bahrain.

In an extraordinary interview with Mirror Online, he admitted hitting his wife – but claimed it was in self-defence and that her bruises only appeared because of her "skin colour".

Alhaddar claimed he only became violent when she was "caught cheating" – but alleged that "she fought back too" leaving them both with bruises.

(Image: Collect Unknown) (Image: Collect Unknown)

He told Mirror Online: "She has white skin so when I go to grab her by her hand there will be bruises for her.

“Her skin colour, the bruises appear for her really easily.”

Alhaddar also provided Mirror Online with photos of scratches and other injuries that he says support his claim.

In a Facebook post, Hannah's mother also accused Alhaddar of burning her passport to stop her from returning to the UK.

But the 30-year-old, who is from Bahrain, claimed she had actually hidden the official document in the oven and inadvertently torched it herself three days later.

He says he reported her to police on December 9 last year after claiming to have uncovered evidence that she had been cheating on him.

(Image: Facebook)

In a message posted on Facebook, Hannah's mum Shelley wrote: "Hannah is suffering being in prison – she is only been given rice and water three times a day.

"Bahrain is a law unto themselves and there is absolutely no need for my daughter to be in prison in this disgusting country."

Family friends launched a crowd-funding campaign as well as a petition which has racked up thousands of signatures in support of Hannah.

A Foreign Office spokesperson told Mirror Online: "We are providing support to a British woman following her arrest in Bahrain.

"We remain in contact with both her family and with Bahraini authorities."

(Image: Facebook) (Image: Facebook)

Mum Shelley said in a fundraising appeal on GoFundMe to get her daughter home: “Things became very difficult for her as she was suffering from domestic violence by the hands of Alhaddar. This became worse day by day.

“Hannah finally made the decision to leave him and Bahrain with her son, with support and help from her family.

“He made it impossible for her to leave as he burned her passport.

“He then went to the police and accused her of having an affair so she has been in a Bahrain prison for one month now and is looking at a sentence of between one and five years for adultery, which is a very serious crime in a Sharia Muslim culture community.

“Hannah is suffering. She is only being given rice and water three times a day.

“She has not been given or had access to toiletries and she only received money that I sent to her through the embassy.

“I have been allocated a consul through the British Embassy, who have been no help at all and unfortunately they have not been given permission to visit Hannah to check on her welfare.

“Alhaddar claims to be a good Muslim. He is now hiding behind his religion to imprison Hannah.”

A source close to the family added: “Hannah’s parents are at their wits’ end with this.

“They just want to get her out of that country now and back home. Bahrain is still living in the past when it comes to treating women with dignity and respect.”

Later confirming her daughter's release from prison, Shelley said last night: “I can now confirm Hannah was released from Bahrain jail at 6pm today and is in safe hands and being very well looked after.

“But she cannot leave Bahrain at the moment due to legal reasons.

“I will let everyone know when she returns back to the UK. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for their support."