A British mother was jailed in Bahrain after her husband accused her of adultery, her family has claimed.

Hannah James was imprisoned for a month after she tried to leave the country to escape her husband, Jassim Alhaddar, who she accused of being abusive.

According to her family, Mr Alhaddar, with whom she has a son, burned her passport and told police she had been having an affair – a criminal act under Sharia law.

The 26-year-old has since been released from prison, where she existed on a diet of rice and water.

However, she was being detained in the country “for legal reasons”, according to her mother Shelley James.

Writing on a JustGiving page set up to secure her daughter’s release, Ms James said: “As you all may know that my daughter Hannah James moved to Bahrain last year and married Jassim Alhaddar, the father of her son.

Hannah James pictured with Jassim Alhaddar (Facebook)

“Things became very difficult for her as she was suffering from domestic violence by the hands of Jassim Alhaddar, this became worse day by day.

“I have been allocated a consul through the British embassy, who has 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.”

Her family also uploaded photos of the injuries allegedly inflicted on Ms James.

Ms James' family shared images of her alleged injuries (Facebook)

Mr Alhaddar acknowledged that he had caused the bruises, but claimed he hit his wife in self-defence and her skin colour meant bruises appeared easily.

Ms James’ family released images of injuries allegedly inflicted by her husband (Facebook)

“She has white skin so when I go to grab her by her hand there will be bruises for her,” he told the Mirror.

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

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He also denied burning her passport, claiming that Hannah had destroyed it herself inadvertently.