Not Without My Daughter chronicles the life story of Betty Mahmoody, a Michigan housewife married to an Iranian doctor. Though they met in America, Betty’s husband, Moody, never fully adapted. Feeling discriminated against, particularly after the Iranian Revolution, he began to devise a sick, secret plan.
Under the guise of a two week family vacation, he coerced Betty and their daughter, Mahtob, to accompany him to Iran. Though Betty knew in her heart this was dangerous, she allowed him to talk her into it, against her better judgment (always the wrong decision!).
In Iran, Betty was confronted with her worst nightmare: a backward, fundamentalist Muslim nation, enveloped by near perpetual war and squalor. She is punished for not wearing religious clothing and can not go anywhere without her husband’s approval. Much of the “vacation” is spent in tears and panic.
When the day finally arrives to leave, Betty’s misery becomes a true hell on Earth. Moody steals their passports and locks her and her daughter in a room—the start of their kidnapping. His cruelty is exceptionally difficult to read, let alone imagine enduring!
Betty is desperate to leave Moody, his spiteful relatives, and, most of all, the oppression that is Iran. After much time, many vicious arguments, and harrowing abuse, Moody agrees to let her go, but only if she relinquishes their daughter to him and his family forever.
“Never,” she tells him, “Not without my daughter…” Betty cannot abandon her, not even to save herself. They will leave Iran, together, by any means possible. Desperate, she tries to seek help from the U.S. State Department, who are shamefully unwilling—unable?—to assist. Completely on her own, Betty reaches down deep, the way only a truly dedicated mother can, and risks everything to escape.
The rest of the book reads like a spy novel: bribes, night flight, running away without any guarantee of safety, endless walking, driving, and even riding donkeys over the mountains into Turkey, a 500 mile journey to freedom.
Upon her return to America, Betty’s story became an immediate sensation, first as a book and again as a movie of the same title. The movie version is exceptionally well done, starring Sally Field and Alfred Molina. Watching the fight scenes where he punches her and screams, “You’re in my country now!” would give any woman nightmares!
Even with all the publicity and documentation, there are still critics who doubt this story is true. Numerous fools denounced Betty’s book, calling it everything from fantasy to a smear campaign against her ex-husband.
I personally believe Betty because her story is not unique. I don’t understand why anyone would doubt her sincerity. Many women and children have been brutalized by Iranian men, held against their will, and terrorized beyond comprehension. Some of these cases were documented in Betty’s follow-up book, For the Love of a Child.
On a side note, it’s not just Westerners that face the wrath of Iranian evil: The entire Persian-Jewish community was persecuted and abused to the point of no return; a culture that had flourished for thousands of years is no more. Almost every single member has been forced to relocate, mainly in Israel or Los Angeles.
Not Without My Daughter is more than just entertainment; I believe this cautionary tale should be required reading for all ladies. As Western women, we sometimes take our freedom for granted. It must never be forgotten how immensely blessed we are to live in safe, clean, egalitarian nations like America, Great Britain, and Israel.
I pray with all my heart that no one else will ever have to endure the horror that Betty and Mahtob lived through. By educating women about the dangers, it can be prevented…