“Not Without My Daughter” is a true story written by Betty Mahmoody. Betty, of Michigan, was married to Dr Sayyed Bozorg “Moody” Mahmoody. Betty and Dr Mahmoody brought their daughter, Mahtob Mahmoody, to Iran for a visit.

Betty was surprised to learn that her husband tricked her and he planned to stay in Iran as he lost his job in Michigan. Betty and Mahtob Mahmoody became prisoners until Betty befriended a shopkeeper with underground contacts. He helped Betty and Mahtob Mahmoody to escape from Iran.

The Mahmoody mother and daughter reached the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, where they eventually were assisted to return to the US on Feb 9, 1986. Betty and Mahtob Mahmoody had lived in Iran for 18 months.

Not Without My Daughter has been made into a film. Dr Mahmoody has given his version of the custody battle to a film maker, Alexis Kouros. Kouros made the documentary, “Without My Daughter”, to dispute some perceived disagreements in Betty Mahmoody’s story.

Betty Mahmoody today is a writer and lecturer who is committed to help women and others who have similar predicaments as her own.

(Details of the Mahmoody story are at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Without_My_Daughter)