Betty Mahmoody agreed to a two week vacation to Iran with her husband and daughter. However, upon arriving she learned that her husband had no intention of allowing her or their daughter to return to the United States. She was forced to live according to strict Iranian customs, covering her hair and body. With the help of the US embassy and many strangers, Betty embarked on a dangerous journey to escape Iran with her daughter, arriving home after over a year. Her husband died in Iran in 2009, maintaining that his portrayal in the book and film were inaccurate.

1. Life in iran“Not withhout my daughter” By: Monica Damron

2. Not without my daughter Written by Betty Mahmoody and William Hoffer True story of a mother and daughters experience and escape from Iran Has been made into a motion picture Chose to read this book due to a recent cesarean section and could not travel

3. Iran

4. Subject to male dominance Women were to remain at home and care for the children Men worked and provided the income Women could only do as the husband had instructed Women were submissive

5. Betty’s experience Betty agreed to go on vacation to Iran for two weeks, her husband had promised on the Koran, that they would return afterwards They left on in August 1984 She soon learned that she nor, their daughter, Mahtob would be returning to the United States She began to live a submissive life as an Iranian woman She wore the rusari (to cover her hair) and the chador (to cover her body), it’s much like a loose fitting trench coat

6. Koran Islamic Bible

7. The embassy Could not help her unless she was willing to leave her child Could keep in contact with her family for her Suggested that she try not to escape due to women being raped and killed Checked on her to make sure she was okay

8. The escape Moody had been called away for an emergency Betty and Mahtob began their journey to a man that had promised to help The stayed in apartment until they began their decent at night They were driven in cars, rode mules, walked and rode buses Aided by numerous individuals who gave them clothing to match theirs and fed them Arrived home on February 7, 1986

9. Their escape route MILES 500

10. Today: Betty Mahmoody Has written another book called “For the Love of a Child”; about other stories from parents whose foreign parents estranged them from their children.

11. Today: Mahtobmahmoody Mahtob never again saw her father; She is now 31 years old; She is a public speaker at domestic assault vigils

12. Today: Moody SayyadBozorgMahmoody “Moody” died in Iran on August 23, 2009 of Kidney Failure; He wrote a book in 2002 about how Hollywood had made him out to be a mad man and a wife beater; that he never did those cruel things; and his book has his side of the story

13. My opinion I am glad that I am a United States citizen I am not subject to male dominance I can wear what I want to wear I have rights We don’t have missile attacks We have clean food and water I look at immigrants with understanding; for I too would want to escape the trials they face on a daily basis I would highly recommend that everyone read this book