A woman’s struggle to escape a country she doesn’t identify herself with and her determination to flee the land of fanatics with her daughter. This is the breathtaking tale of an American woman named Betty Mahmoody’s escape from a country where she finds herself trapped, the country which is not only hostile to her cause but alien to her culture as well.
Not Without My Daughter is a true story of Betty Mahmoody who falls in love with her Iranian doctor (Moody) and subsequently marries him. They have a daughter called Mahtob and the three are leading a happy family life. Then one fine day at the behest of her husband she agrees to visit his family on a two week vacation to Iran.
Keeping all her apprehensions aside, unaware about the torments awaiting her, she finally lands in the country ruled by Ayatollah Khomeini. She is completely lost to find herself in a culturally different state. She discovers with the passage of time that women have no rights in their male dominated society.
Somehow she and Mahtob compel themselves to enjoy their trip, praying all the while to Jesus for a safe return. Those two weeks seem like eternity to them. In the meanwhile they try their best to mingle with Moody’s family. Visiting relatives and shopping for return gifts keeps them occupied.
But the worse is yet to come. Just as while they are preparing to return to the US, to Betty’s horror, Moody declares his intentions of staying back in Iran forever. All of a sudden she feels cheated and trapped! Her fears begin to turn into reality. Her efforts to persuade Moody to change his decision fall on deaf ears. Now she is left with no option but to comply with her husband turned master’s will who forces her to cut off all ties with her family back in the States.
In the days to come, Betty and Mahtob unearth the animal instincts of the man they both love. Moody suddenly changes from a loving husband and father to a dictator, showing no mercy when his orders are disobeyed. His family members constantly add fuel to fire and Betty finds herself segregated as an outsider within her own family. Their hatred for America begins to take toll on for she is subjected to unnecessary harassment at the slightest given opportunity.
She and Mahtob are forced to adapt the traditions of a society which they so very despise. Mahtob is enrolled in a government school indicating that the longer she delays the impossible it will get for her to leave. It is then that she determines the inevitable- an escape from Iran. Nevertheless the task appears unattainable and it takes her two long years to finally step out. In the following two years she makes one failed attempt. As a result Moody takes Mahtob away from her and treats like a captive. The fear of losing Mahtob makes life all the more difficult for her.
Her two years in Iran are a hellish experience. She along with her daughter faces every second like a nightmare. Following moments bring noting but more and more unpredictability. It is in Iran she realizes that being a woman in their society is a crime, that women are treated as objects not subjects.
During her forced-stay in Iran she befriends many American women married to Iranians. Placing her trust in them she confides about her plans to flee. But to her dismay she is cheated yet again and this by her fellow Americans. However, she finds earnest company in a shopkeeper named Hamid and a few others who constantly boost her moral support. Though Betty could have easily left Iran, in fact she let go of two such opportunities to leave the country she didn’t identify herself with. But she was determined to leave and more so with her daughter.
The book is captivating enough to keep the reader hooked to it. Minute details of Iranian lifestyle, society, women rights and above all her sufferings at the hands of her own husband is worth a read.
The ordeal of a woman to escape with her daughter is a must read for all the book lovers. It assures you a roller coaster ride of emotions and total entertainment is guaranteed henceforth!