“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 Mahmoody today is an author. Betty Mahmoody today is a public speaker who travels all over the US and the world, to talk about her experiences and how she has handled her life.
The Betty Mahmoody today is different from the Betty who was a domesticated housewife of years ago. 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)
Betty Mahmoody.
Today, Betty Mahmoody is the President and founder of "One World: For Children". One World aims to promote security and protection to children of bi-cultural marriages. Mahmoody is a consultant to the Michigan State on the subject of international kidnapping of children.
In 1990, Betty Mahmoody was honored as the Outstanding Woman of the Year, Most Courageous of the Year, and Woman of the Year (Germany).
Today, Betty Mahmoody is a speaker who tours the country to lecture on her expertise.
Mahtob Mahmoody today.
Mahtob Mahmoody is a speaker on victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Mahtob wa sonly 4 years old when she survived her ordeal but she has grown up fine.
The movie Not Without My Daughter.
Sally Field, Alfred Molina, Sheila Rosenthal and Roshan Seth acted in the movie, "Not Without My Daughter". Field played Betty Mahmoody. Molina acted as Moody. Rosenthal was Mahtob. Seth acted as Houssein.
Sally Field in "Not Without My Daughter".
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Betty and Mahtob, You are brave women. I have seen the movie so many times and cant get over what happened to you ladies. I have read the book too. Very imopressive..
betty, you are very brave woman….i saw movie 2 times and read a book..
And to the comment #56, why would she want to talk to him again! Are you kidding! You must be a controlling man
It floors me that people can talk trash about a woman who clearly suffered a tragic ordeal. No one is saying ALL muslims are angry, but how are we supposed to view them? As nice loving people? Who think that women actually are someone to be loved and listened to? ITS OBVIOUS that is not true. A woman is getting stoned for sleeping with another guy AFTER her husband died! WOW! Either way, how was she supposed to know that the country of the man she married had such ridiculous laws! SHE TRUSTED HIM! That is the way it is in this country! Women have the right to show their face, and speak! ITs nice! There are no questions that need to be answered as he probably would have let her talk to her own parents. It is sad how people think
I think most of the people who commented above there need to see the documentary of Mahmood (the husband “without my daughter”)its in the Youtube. First if for an example someone did something wrong to you wouldn’t you want that person to tell you why he/she did it? how many times have we seen people trying to reach the murderers with a view to know why they killed their loved ones? Betty has never even a single day ever thought to dedicate her busy time atleast to ask her husband through say CNN or Dr Phil why he did what he did to her? so that the world will know who is telling the truth or who is lying! From the ddcumentary “without my daughter” Mahmood tried desparately to contact her daughter, he even travelled to a neutral country for God’s sake just to invite her daughter atleast to see her But they refused even to answer his phone an mails! he even tried to acquire visa to coe to the US just to tell the side of his story but he was unable coz he was classified as persona no granta, I mean what is this that this man did to Betty and daughter that despite his effort to talk to them that Betty decided to assume him. Atleast she could have been more than happy to talk to him in Finland with even the FBI and all media watching just to prove to the world that indeed Mahmood was to blame? And thirdly from the documentary the Judge who hundles the case said it on camera that and I quote, ” If i was in charge then all Iranians will be dead.” to mean this Judge had hatred on the Iranian and now here comes a case involving an Iranian Man what would you think the outcoem will be? anybody’s guess. Again if for sure this Guy hated his wife this much why and i ask why didnt he remarry he stayed single till he died. There are lots of questions that need to be answered and I wish CNN would do an investigatve journalism to asertain this coz i know even though he is dead ONE DAY THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT!
I am glad Betty Mamoody was able to make back to
America with her daughter Mahtob. Moody could have
had a good life with him wife and daughter in the
United States, but he choosed to be stupid. I think
Betty should have left Moody when they were still in the
states especially with those ordeals in Corpus Christi and Michigan, but she stuck it out. Both
Mammal and Reza were acted very strangle during their visit to the states. I thought Betty should
have gotten the police involved.
Whilst I dislike racism in general I do believe that this film is an accurate description as to the way that many American woman have been treated after marrying an Iranian man. The Muslamic culture has long been shamed for the way that it treats women in general. I do not believe however that this is the case for EVERY Muslim.
However, I feel for Betty. For her struggles and I admire her courage and the undying love for her child.
Of course her Husband isn’t going to sit there and say “Yes, I beat and kidnapped my wife and child”. Think about it logically. We all know this behaviour is very common. Lets try and be a little more realistic!
By the way, the beetles sold their lives to the Devil, so I wouldn’t refer anything that has to do with them.
To Gayle, it’s your own opinion wether you believe in Christ or not. I’m not talking about Religion, I don’t care about religion. I’m talking about your faith in Christ. If you choose not to believe, then that’s you. You can always sell your life to Satan, get glory here on earth, but when you die, Satan will turn his back on you and let you burn in fire for eternity in death. You say you don’t care cause you won’t feel it or you will be so called “dead”, so sad for you. Trust me, you will feel an agonizing pain in Hell and then you will remember this email and try to repent!
To Kerri, totally agree with you. I don’t think she knew they were going to move there for good either. That country is very strong with man power and men rule there. I honestly truly believe every word that Betty and her daughter had to go through.
This is in response to Dawn(Davn)reply #42
You are an absolute idiot if you think that Moody actually told Betty that they were going to go to Iran and STAY there. I mean, c’mon. If that were true, they’d have sold the house, sold the cars(s)packed most of their belongings and have them shipped via MSC(Mediterranean Shipping company). Why would they have left everything behind in the US? Doesn’t make sense!Two yrs ago, a Muslim family down the street decided to move. Actually, only the wife and all 5 kids moved to Jordan. The Husband stayed in the US to sell their home. They packed the kids beds, mattresses, dressers all the stuff the kids would need. Some toys and some furniture was left in the home, but most was packed and shipped via MSC. To this date the home is still on the market, not been sold, and I have no idea if the husband is there or not. I think he is. The story the kids in that family told us was that they were only going to move and live in Jordan for 2 years. If they were only going for 2 years, then why sell the house? Personally, I think they were going thru a divorce, but wanted to save face. I dunno. I think the Middle Eastern countries over there a definitely extremeists and zealots1
I have a relative in a similar situation involving three children. I am trying to get more information on the ONE WORLD FOR CHILDREN organization founded by Betty Mahmoody but found nothing at all online. Does anybody knows if there is a website, address or anything at all??? please is a very desperate situation. thank you
Religion is a bunch of crap. All of the ills of the world are based on religion. I’m all for John Lennon’s song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8&feature=related
Religion should be kept only to yourself, and no one else. Imagine all the people living life in peace? Wow!
I´m Gabriela from Prague ic Czech republic. I red the book and I saw the film. I want write more, but my English is bad. Thank you Betty for the book.
It is because her faith in God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit that led her not to America but to a safe place where no more harm or danger for His children. I’m not saying that God is there to hurt anyone, we are in situations like this because we choose to be. How do we choose to have a life like that, but not talking to Christ or putting Christ first in your life!
Bettty why you still using his last name “Mahmoody”
Why are you still using his last name “mahmoody”
Can’t help wondering, if Betty’s story is untrue as her ex-husband claims in his film, why did Mahtob not go back to Iran when she became of age? Sure, she was only 4, but her memories of her father and her time in Iran should have been enough to form her own opinion. Personally, I think Muslims have an underlying scheme to turn the entire world into Muslims (like Baptists) and I fear them all – because I wish to remain faithless and free.
Yes in every religion or culture there are people who take things to the extreme. I’m not Muslim, I am an American, I’m in graduate school to empower women and I have been studying Islam and women. I agree that Muslim people can live a peaceful life and be happily married as well as those biratial couples but through my studies I have found that women in general are a vulnerable people and after a while a man can take advantage of that being a very powerful figure in every country. I do know that there the Muslim faith is very strong and many traditions are very important to keep. I don’t think that we should hate anyone, I just think that it is easy to say that hollywood portrays this behavoir but if you watch youtube or google you will find many, many stories of women who have experienced great voilence in Muslim dominated Countries and have no voice or help, it also varies from country to country. There are many variables that play a role so it is difficult to generalize, we all need to take the time to look at each situation differently and be careful what label we put on them such as “Muslim Violence” maybe should just be “Voilence against all Women” and in this case the category of women who experience this in countries such as Iran, Pakistan, or any other place. If your story is a beautiful experience then that is great but you may not understand the countless women who are crying out for help, if you have experienced or have seen women in Islam with awful stories you may not understand that there are women not living like that, but one thing we do know is that those who are experiencing such oppression need some serious help. Solutions are needed, truth is needed not just judgements but maybe there needs to be someone to rise up and help all women all over the world in these situations (e.g., American or Iran). We do know that in the Muslim beliefs that most things related to Western ways are not acceptable so if a Muslim woman embraces anything remotely close to western women they can suffer greatly in some circumstances. I find that it is hard to speak of women’s empowerment, women’s equality, women’s rights in these cases where the beleifs of the religion is so powerful that it can silence these movements. It is a lot to think about and I think that we all need to continue researching and studying and focus on any woman in any country who needs freedom from oppression where people use religion as a tool to oppress.
Salam, I am an American Muslim woman who is married to an Iranian man. I had been Muslim 8 years before I met and married him. I had also watched the movie ” Not Without My Daughter ” before becoming Muslim, and just tonight I watched the interview with Dr.Mahmoody. I have always been a person who does not believe everything that I hear or what I watch. In America it is all about money, and making the middle east to look bad in any way possible, and the people are quick to believe. It is all very sad to me. I don’t believe that Betty was told it would only be two weeks in Iran. No one travels to their country for such a short time after being away for so long. I felt a great saddness to watch the interview with Dr.Mahmoody when he was only try to contact his daughter over the phone. It would have not hurt Betty to pass the phone. This life is too short, and full of regrets. It is best to move on from bad situations, learn from them……and not to hold hate in our hearts. I know from my hard upbringing in fosterhomes……if I hold hate in my heart……I would never be as happy as I am today. Alhamduallah….meaning….All praise belongs to god !!
Better think twice before you marry someone who does not share your nationality, religion, or culture. Sure could save you alot of trouble in the long run. My first husband was not American but we got along fine, Problem was his family. they hated Americans.
I’m doing my own research on it, but most likely, to draw my own opinion and I believe that I’ am in a right track. Single mom, spanish, abused by an iranian partner,(psicologically) who was married before to an american, very profesional like “Dr Mahood” . My only daughter had playdates with his “older brother” who did not know , she was his sister…. long story… then he went to marry an iranian girl younger than me because “I was too old” (same age than him), had 2 children, but the story change patterns, it was my daughter who was looking for a dad and brothers and sisters….today he’s alone on welfare and sick…I have been analizing the behavior and comparing these “2 guys patterns” very much the same, the victims, .. and never recognize their mistakes…long story…. I wish my daughter had the change to meet Mahtob one day, that is what she wishes and would like to share with her.My daughter Soraya, is beautiful, smart, pursuing a veterinarian school ( Modeling experience)… Please Mahtob if you have the chance, meet her, you’d have a lot to share,…
in the islamic religion when a husband an wife divorce yes the man is supposed too look after the upbringing of the children.As it sees that the female to remarry she has better prospects of remarrage if an when she does so or does not,with no responsibilities. However as a muslim female i have never seen this part of the divorce acted upon by the man whether in the western world or a islamic country i have seen court cases for child support run for decades with no conclusion for the female in islamic countrys.The fathers do not even pay fianancial support as i have seen in all divorce cases regardless of the law as it has loop holes that enable dead beat fathers. However in my experience when a mixed race marriage or a child of two mixed race parents is coming to an end the muslim man whether egyptian,pakistani,turkish sees his offspring as being reared in a western culture that promotes immoral an vulgarity especially if the child is a girl. And will use the islamic sharieh law of taking custody of children an if the soon to be ex wife is in a islamic country you dont have no rights unless you are back in your homeland an have tv an news coverage to promote your plight. but what erks me is that these islamic men marry non islamic women where did they meet the local mosque? no as it is segregrated-yes in a non islamic surrounding,were their future baby mamas dresses in the burka dont think so,yet the islamic male is happy with all this to enter a consenting sexual relationship resulting in pregnancy-but upon divore all these become immoral an vulgar-but not when you were doing the bump an grind!
Compellin drama …fascinatin, if disturbed… a movin story of on’e person’s fortitud,vcourage and faith
the world will be a much more peaceful place when people can see beyond race and religion. i am a free thinker living in a muslim country.
i hv read the book and all that betty has gone thru is very real in some muslim families in some muslin countries. some to the extend of honour killing to keep the honour of the family name.
islam is a peaceful religion. it’s the people who interpret it to their liking and turning it into a violent religion for their own gains. shame on them.
betty is a very courageous lady to have done what she did for mahtob!
I admire Betty for what she did, she had courage, determination and strength and for this she saved her daughters life and gave her daughter life. I would never have left my child behind either. There is no greater love than the love of your child!!
I loved you the minute I heard your heartbeat. I loved you the minute you were born. Then I saw your face and fell in love some more. You were only a minute old, but I knew I would die for you, and to this day I still would. When you choose to have a child you make a conscious decision to allow your heart to walk…around… outside your body.
wow all you muslim haters, are doing exactly what you hate about muslims, your saying that muslims are christian haters..well its turns out that your the one whose hating..
Everyone gives the 9-11 as a example of how bad muslims are, well like many have said, there are good and bad..and no where in the quraan does it say to kill christians or kill people in general..human blood is said to have more importance and value that the quraan..so I dont understand how people believe Islam is a religion of violence. The only problem with the muslim community is that the majority is uneducated due to harsh and backward living conditions. If you notice most muslim countries and very underdeveloped, hence very littler educated population..and these uneducated men are the ones treating their women unjustly. Islam on the contrary is trying to give women MORE respect..if you all think wearing a hijab is some sort of punishment..well its not supposed to be. Have you seen all those perverted men out there staring at women, raping them, and taking advantage of them..is that not evil? anyhow..women in islam are told to dress conservatively to provide them repsect in society..so men dont just marry them for their bodies..but actually for who they are. And the person that said, women are stoned to death for adultey and men arent, need to check their facts..because men are supposed to be given harsher punsishments than women, and it is not Islamic if a country like Pakistan or Afghanistan or Iran have political systems that do not do what is right in ISlam. Also to point out..i dont think Hitler was a muslim..and he and his supporters have by far done many worse and inhumane and torturous things to human beings..
I agree that Betty went throught hell and i understand how difficult it must have been for her in a place where she had no way to escape..but should be noticed that it was infact MUSLIM IRANIAN Men that helped here escape, without them she would still be there in Iran. Also, i know many of you have seen all these horrible documentaries of how horribly women are treated..did you ever stop and think..will these documentaries show me how the better side of these countries..the women who spend thousands on clothes and bags and cosmetics provided by their husbands..no..hollywood only shows you what you want to see..Im a Canadian Muslim and i lived in Saudi Arabia for about 15 years..and trust me, women live much lavisher lives than the ones in north america..and nobody shows the developed parts of these countries..only the ghettos..
YOu all talk about women rights..but till now women in USA and Canada are abused by their husbands too..
Dont make generalizations of countries, places and people you dont know 100% about..
i not much of a reader and neither have i read many books but this book was given to me by my sister and i read it in one sitting!!! i never thought that was possible!!!!
i think betty and mahtob are very brave and wish them alot of happiness.
i personaly think the book has nothing to do with religion but a very sick man!!!!
All religions should die. They are the root of all the evil, wars, hatred, and innocent deaths. And let’s not forget how much all these gods hate women! Religions are especially bad for women!
WAKE UP PEOLPE!!!
I have had to experience something similar to betty recently and I see the same thing happening to women over and over again its devastating. The women suffer unbearable psychological torture and pain when they are trapped and worse when a child is taken. Laws need to be made to protect the children of bicultural or binationality. They are vunerable and alone and without a hand to help them. Imagine the west can force war on other countries but we can’t protect our children so they are not kidnapped and separated from their mothers and their right to grow up free.
Betty Mahmoody’s story is representative of the countless women and children who are tragically affected when being taken hostage in a foreign country, such as Iran. We can all have religious debates. And yes, there are radicals in all religions. HOWEVER, there is no question that Islam lends itself to more fanaticism that any other religion in the world! That is a plain fact that is evident to most people who are not wearing blind folders. I also find it despicable how women are treated in many Muslim countries. Talk about living under the veil with no rights! It is absolutely horrendous in some of these counties. The sad part about it is that many of these women are not fully aware of their circumstances because they’ve never known any other way! Very sad. Anyhow, as an American man, I would say this to any of you American women out there who happen to fall in love with an foreigner from one of these Muslim countries. Think very long and hard about what you are doing before you enter marriage with them. As a spouse of one of these Muslims, think EVEN harder before you EVER visit their homeland. Yes, I’ve done my research and I know that women are basically the property of their husbands in many of these socieities.