It doesn't matter if he beat her or not. The fact is, she didn't want to be there anymore and wanted to come home. That's all that matters. He kept them there against their will.

Personally, I believe every word said by Betty Mahmoudy.

He can play the saint all he wants, but the bottom line is this--everyone was told they were going away for 2 weeks only. The fact that they did not come back is the big giant red flag that something was off about the situation. If it was truly just a simple vacation, they would have returned. The fact that it took 18 months for her to get out of these proves he never planned to leave. Why are people so blind to that??

Mahmoudy promised on the Koran he would not keep her there if she would go and he broke his sacred promise. It's not kidnapping when it's your own child and you're being held against your will in a foreign country. She was extremely brave and brilliant to outsmart all of them.

It's sad but Mahtob (who is now 30) has publicly stated she never wanted to see her father again. She clearly remembers him beating her mother in Iran-and threatening to track them down 'to the end of his life'. I would not rate any wife-beater a good man. Sorry. Too bad he didn't see her again-but that's on him. The first time he laid hands on her mother is when he lost any right to call himself a father.

Bottom line- even if she was allowed to go out when she wanted, even her husband was not beating her like he denies, even if the movie embellished circumstances like hollywood is known to do- He still held Betty and their child against their will which is wrong!!! I can't imagine the courage it took her to escape and I am glad they made it out. That is justice!

Note the womans response who Betty has written about in the book. "I still can't believe this was Betty written a book like that". She is not denying the events, all she talks about how other women felt upset with Betty writing the book and that it made things "worse". Also note her nervous laughs. Textbook case of deflection the events written about are most likely true.

he decides to finally call his daughter after all these years only when the cameras are rolling?

I cant believe Mahmoody said : « I realize your mother kidnapped you»... is he serious right now? I understand the laws in Iran sayinng that the fact that Betty left with Mahtob is a kidnapping, but how can he say that? I mean, after what he did, how can he say that betty kidnapped their daughter...

Exactly but in a interview herself Mahtob said her father had changed and that she had already grieved the loss of him a long time ago. She and her mother now go around the world speaking about domestic violence and abuse. Even until her father's death Mahtob said she still feared he was trying to kidnap her. Her father made his bed a long time ago and from what Mahtob said she has moved on with her life and both her and her mother are trying to make a difference by helping other victims.

He was denied a Visa because of what he did. He was labeled as high risk. Honestly his actions were wrong, if he really wanted a healthy relationship with his daughter then he wouldn't have acted in the way he did by tricking your family and betraying their trust only to mentally abuse them, especially right in front his daughter. I think he lost the privilege to be father to her a long time ago and that was his guilt to live with.

I read the book and as a mother , i shared her pain throughout his ordeal. I believe her story. If he was so innocent like he claimed to be, why didn't he go to America to settle things with Betty and Mahtob right after they've left? If he was so determined to see his daughter again , why wait 16 years before trying to go to America? His Green card expired by then! IMO , Betty told the truth. If he was such a good father to Mahtob, am sure Mahtob will find it her heart to reach out to him too.

wait don't tell me... this is a movie defending that guy..

I was not there. I don't know these people. I just find it peculiar that someone, a "lazy" American like me, would smuggle herself through the mountains with a small child 'cause she just felt like it.

I agree.He was sick at the ed of his life,yes,but still it does not take away the fact that he did lie to Betty so that he could abduct them like he did and held them hostage in Iran for nearly 2 years.

its very sad that he didnt get to see his daughter before he died but if you take someone against thier will to a strange land on a lie, its not going to turn out ok!! why should betty have lied about what happened? why would she risk her life and that of her daughter to leave if she wasnt desperate?it doesnt make sense

If he really loved his wife and daughter he wouldn't have forced them to live in a foreign country against their will. It was his decision to live in America he didn't even give his wife and daughter the choice. Whether he beat her, took away all her money, or did any of the other horrible things portrayed in the movie or not he was wrong in trying to force his family to live in a foreign country. He was wrong.

Their marriage took place on American soil. Their marriage should have been subjected to American laws. We know her marriage was bad once they lived in Iran, because Sayed beat Betty and ostracized her from Mahtob...and everyone.

This man is probably going delusional in his old age....Or more plausibly, he has always lived in denial of what he has done...I mean there is one thing that stays true : he has forced her and the daughter to stay in Iran against their will.

That American women shakes her head, puts down the book and goes I can't believe this is Betty. As if she's just read it. She's had what 20 years to digest it. Comments like people were angry with Betty for writing such a book and it made US/Iranian relations worse might be true but that doesn't mean what Betty wrote didn't happen.

He should have never taken them to Iran in the first place! What the hell was he thinking?

In the end it was Mahtob's choice whether to speak or see her father again. She knew where he lived, she knew what he does, I don't blame her either way. It was her decision; she was really put through such abuse that no child should ever have to endure.

Too late-he's dead. And Mahtob never wanted to see him again-in the end it was her own business. He beat her mother as Mahtob said so I don't blame her.

He made a terrible mistake not to consult his wife on where to live and raise their daughter. If his daughter wanted to find him, she'd have found him.

Obviously, every body in Iran hated the movie " Not Without My Daughter"

if you live in a islamic country and know their mentality, specially coming from a western mentality country, you DO believe in her version. I also believe that he suffers from beeing far away from his daughter, but after he kept her there without her willing, he was asking for the situation he passt through.

he looks mean.... and like rest of others I too don't understand what prevented him from going to US to meet his daughter if he loved her so much.. I read the book and the woman has gone thru a lot of problems .

moody was such a jerk in the book and movie.

Let us not judge Mahtob to much! She might have a good reason to not want to see her father.

@greanseasen He's an intelligent man. He would've known where she had gone. He knew where her parents were. He would've known that she would've gone to her parents, maybe not to live with them, but to at least visit them. So you can't convince me that he didn't know where she was.

I agree. Betty I can have some doubt about-but Mahtob who is now 30 remembers the threats, the beatings, and she has publicly said so at anti-violence, and sexual abuse meetings. I prefer to believe Mahtob-and not her late father.

Ok this is sad but he deserved it for being such a mean guy who only wants to boss around I think his daughter is better without him come on 20 yrs that's so over the limit

Mahmoody is the creepiest guy, I have been learning about this whole affair and am in the middle of writing about it, and if there is one thing that I learned it is that Mahmoody's defense is riddled with logical fallacies Example: he claims he never beat his wife because he is shorter than she is.

I read the book with the experiences of Betty Mahmoody and mathob, and the movie shows only 5% of what this evil man did suffer the hellish for almost two years! extreme beatings, psychological humiliation, no forgiveness of God for their actions, life as punishment, and it is well deserved!, I recommend reading the book "Not Without My Daughter" and were going to freeze the blood with terrible experience!

It is a shame he didnt have peace with his ex-wife and daugter before he died. It tells me more about his side of the story by his statement that his only sin was loving his daughter or something like that. It stinks of lies. Everyone has regrets about how they handle relationships and ending relationships. I would accept there are two sides to every story, but his lack of any regrets tells me more.

i dont believe this...i think he still abused her coz a woman who is married for 7 years doesnt leave without a warning and without a reason... there must be something that made her leave all of a sudden.... what he is saying doesnt make any sense... there must be a reason D:

One thing I don't understand! Why in this documentary he doesn't tell us that he returned to America to find his daugther or speaking to the USA police that Betty kidnapped his daughter right when she left???? If he complains about Betty taking his money then why he didn't returned to the USA to claim his money right away??? He could return to America to solve many problems there, but instead he just stood there and cried for his daughter!

I don't know if their marriage was bad or not but Betty really had no choice except 'kidnapping' her daughter. If a woman marries an Iranian man, she becomes an Iranian citizen and she is subject to their laws. If she divorces him, and remarries, he keeps the kids.

Well put. Dr. Mahmoody certainly does not represerent all men, or all Muslims for that matter-when I saw the movie, and read the book-I believed Betty all the way. And Mahtob's memories are very clear on the matter-he beat her mother, and prevented them illegally from leaving the country-Betty and Mahtob were Americans and Dr. Mahmoody had no right to keep them captive in his homeland.

That makes no sense. She wrote the book after she left Iran, while she was already safely in the US, and was no longer in any danger of going to prison.

Um... why didn't he just go back to the US to see her?

im reading this book and im almost halfway done.its so good!

"died in a Tehran hospital this morning because of kidney problems and other complications,"

YOU ARE RIGHT!! Nobody will NEVER know what actually happened because nobody was there except Betty, her daughter and her husband. EVERY kind of actual fact has it's controversies BUT IF the "buttom line" of the movie is basically truth then Im on Betty's side because this sort of thing happened in my country Puerto Rico and the woman LOST the case! So even if Betty coudn't get her daughter out of Iran it would still a tale of injustice.

Interesting counterpoint to "not without my daughter", but on a personal note I think that dr. Sayed isn't telling the truth about the whole affair. Several generic signs of lies are shown in the faces of him and Betty's female friend later on in the documentary. Sure, the movie and book is overdramaticized to sell, but not entirely cut out of thin air. Dr.Mahmoody did imprison his wife and daughter. There is no doubt in my mind! Both sides are partial, but dr.Moody lies! ...poorly!

@JediGoddessChristy I agree, if the daughter wanted to see her father when she was of age, she was more then able to do so, despite the negative or positive assumptions she might have had.

@TheMrszahra her husband maybe? You know when you read her book, you know it is how she experienced it, so maybe it is exagerated, but she did went throught terrible things and others women did too; What her husband did to her is unforgivable; Personaly reading, this book, i didn't get the impression that she generalized... ..try to understand her..and at this time Iran was in a very dark and trouble periode.

Thanks for posting this! I have been wanting to watch it for a long time. Off to check out the rest of the parts...

These are quotes from Mahtob. Go tell her she lies. If I was stuck in between my dad and mom, maybe he wouldnt hit her. Maybe if I stuck my finger down my throat and I tried to vomit, I would distract his attention. Maybe if I cried and said I had to go to the bathroom he would let her take me and that would buy more time.

So... Theevilpersian... you must have known Dr. Mahmoody personally? after all that's what you are demanding of anyone who supports Betty's story. What right do you personally have to call her a complete liar and a horrible woman/wife/whatever? Are you denying that custody is automatically given to the father or eldest male relative of the father? Or perhaps you think this sort of thing never happens? I'm curious...

exactly but my question is that how come he is still in Iran and wouldn't the daughter be an adult by now? She could have contacted her father why hasn't she?

You can, you just have to wait for it to be approved. I moderate comments in order to filter out unnecessary insults and disrespectful comments ;) Cheers

That is a respectable argument. Although I'm not sure if you are responding to my previous post or simply providing me with your view on it. Because that was not my point in that post. As far as judging one's honesty and dishonesty I personally do not find appropriate to decide solely based on 2 films or books from either side. There is a lot that you and I are unaware of, and that could easily lead us to a misjudgment.

about "Islam." It's about one woman's experience under a cruel theocracy, as the victim, apparently, of an abusive husband.

...by claiming that in Midnight Express, the author portrays the Turks as "homosexuals who bothered him a lot." This is not true. It is true that the book portrays some of the guards as rapists, but it is also true that the author portrays himself as having a consensual love affair with another man when they were in prison (this part of the book is not portrayed accurately in the film that was later made of the book). Granted, it is difficult for either party to "prove" that their version is...

Very mature, doesn't want to talk to anyone else but the daughter, treason and all that, If someone kidnapped my child I would definitely want a word with them, unless I was partially to blame for the situation and took up a mask of victimhood...

i think its the women in the flim that she met in her class, not sure

I think this documentary is bullshit. She is an adult, she chooses not to see him not because of what her mother tells her, but because what she remembers. The man is so fucking narcisstic, how the hell does can he talk shit about "treason" when he kept his wife against her will. Keeping his family safe should have been his first priority, not his own wishes.

is this the real movie or just a documentary?

What did Dr. Mahmoody die of?

This stinks.

I mean if the daughter also claim about the abuse of the father we have proves that all that the mother said was true. And even if the mother lies is Mahtop decision if the wants to see her father,,

Someone tell me who is she in 4:29 minutes? Please.

You must have seen what happened in Iran with your own eyes, Jonokai, if you're criticising someone for doubting Betty's story. So then, friend, tell us the story, and I'm excluding the bits you saw on your telly.

And do you say this because you happen to know Mr. Mahmoody (the real one not the Hollywood character) personally?

Are you being sarcastic or are you saying you are Alice sharif? lol

@VineetaSastry totaly agree

And what right do YOU have to speak on MY behalf without even knowing what I know or think on this matter? Unless you are magically quoting my from somewhere please don't speak non-sense for the sake of seeking attention.

excessive use of sarcasm results in ranting a whole lot about nothing. Thank you for demonstrating that.

Yes, the movie very well may have been made by anti-iranian jewish/israeli propaganda. But that in no way justifies any hatred or sentiment towards the people of a certain faith (i.e. jews) especially Iranian ones inside Iran. No doubt the movie had intentions of propaganda, but no need to take yourself down to their level.

My english is to bad to understand this Documentary but it will be great to see both sides. Did somebody knows if its possible to look the film in german or with german subtitle?

But if Mahtob meets her father, Moody might try to kidnap her. Mahtob can't go to Iran and Moody can't go to America. Everyday I wonder, What is the true side of the story?

And how much is your level of knowledge on Iranian culture if I may ask? Have you lived there? or done a research or is it books you have read on it?

thank you for your kindness.

Without all the ridiculous country vs country childish thought.... I think these parents have both made mistakes. Moody took and American wife lived and American life with her, had an American child and then took her to live in Iran during a tumultous time between the countries. Now the upheaval was not his or her fault thats between governments. Putting aside a lot and coming to the root of it he should have known that it was going to be difficult to move Betty there. He should hve cme home

adding to my prior post Betty made the mistake of not asking Moody to visit Iran first and seeing how he felt about going home. He should have gone and checked the living situation and then come back home and spoke to Betty about it. I believe they could have worked out the marriage if they both had not been afraid of loosing Mahtob to the other spouse Still Moody has a responsibility to his wife above ALL others When she was not happy for whatever the reason he should have said lets go back

Well this movie/book was made/written later but the actual story was in 1984. Society changes on a regular basis.

Fireplug111, Instead of arguing this much, use of unnecessary sarcasm and giving ridiculous examples, you could just say "Oh yes! I made a mistake! That country was Iran and NOT Iraq". If confusing Iran with Iraq isn't that much important and the 2 countries are almost the same, then I'd prefer to call the US, Canada and you're a Canadian!!! There's not much difference between Canada and the US after all !!! lol...Your reasoning sucks.

Theevilpersian: You express yourself skillfully and brilliantly. Thanks! I do agree with you! You sound like a wise person! :-)

You say that NOW, and are obviously a more analytical person than general public. But you must look at everything in its respective context and time. Given the social and political status at the time this movie was produced, it can only be assumed that different intentions were in mind as different messages were received by the audience.

When is lost without my daughter going to be published?

People in Iran were more indifferent about it than Iranians living abroad, mainly because the negative impact from the Anti-Iranian sentiments in the movie hurt and was felt by those Iranians living abroad more. They were viewed/treated differently by the public as a result. I first saw it in Iran on a Turkish satellite channel and while making every iranian look like a violent wife-beating mahmoody character and Iran looking like some 1920's Iraq made the movie terrible, life still moved on.

tnx so much for sharing this story, i hope that it can make a change ^___^ those people who have closed their eyes on reality better open their eyes n see what the reality is!

well if ure father hit you in the past, and stuff. Then you dont want to see your dad i guess. I DONT KNOW WHATS TRUE SO>......:S

I also mentioned that you also seem more analytical than the general public. And yes, they did show a few "good Iranains" for helping Betty, but the way the country, the environment, and the people are portrayed both in the movie and in the book itself give a completely different, more violent, backward, and this dirty perception of Iran and Iranian people to the general public.

May I ask on what basis you are so sure that Mahmoody tried to keep his wife "Captive?" And may I ask how much experience and interaction you have had with "Muslim men," that has made you soo certain in your general judgment of Muslim men thinking "like children" and not liking open-minded and strong women? Because I as an Iranian Muslim man would beg to differ. Based on your logic, would I then be able to go to up to a christian KKK member and consider that as a typical Christian (man)?

I realize that your mother had Kidnapped you ????She was not trying to make things better. Betty to me seemed like a woman who wanted to get away from iran and its ways and did not want to leave without her daughter. A lesson to all bicultural families

...correct, but the film does not attempt to go into any depth. The Sharif woman is even interviewed to give her opinion about whether Betty could have escaped over the mountains. So a housewife from Michigan who lives in Tehera is the Finnish director's authority on the possibility of a mountain escape from Iran. That is sad. I do not think the original film demonized Iranians. There are Iranians who are portrayed as heroically helping her to escape -- hardly "demons." The film is not

I asked you not of what the "western world would agree on" or what the government there is like, but rather your knowledge on IRANIAN CULTURE, and the fact that you are grouping and considering IRAN with "Arabic countries" shows perhaps you should first clear up your understanding of that region and the nations in it before moving on to cultures and societies. I certainly do not mean this in condescending or offensive manner as much as I am simply pointing out the complexity of it all.

I wish you would at least learn a bit more about something first before commenting on it. This is not about Iraq, it's about IraN. But perhaps this just goes to show that the movie was successful in completely misrepresenting Iran and portraying it to viewers as a country similar to Iraq.

Do you mean to tell me that showing people speak normal dialogue with an unnecessary violent tone, and beat down buildings and cars as the city of Tehran...and then Betty describing the family eating worms are not made to degrade Iranians? And that is irregardless of whatever the situation was within the mahmoody family. Those are the typical sensationalizing methods of any country's media if you ask me.

I agree there was some things that were done purposefuly by the pple making the film to flame up tempers within Iranian pple, like the christian praying, it was sooo unnecessary ... Now I'm gonna watch this documentary, but right at this point I can't help but feel anoyed at this sleasy sentimentality, my daughter gave me this watch blabla, I'm lighting a candle etc, she was 9 years old, with a gold watch?

Google the following and click the first link: 'Not Without My Daughter' Iranian father dies AFP All the information should be there

no it doesn't make relationship worse. you know why because we people of Iran don't define the relationship the government does. but problem is this book tries to play with words and information that americans or western countries don't understand. for example like that in a sever war between two countries in which people are dying of hunger I right a story that my husband din't buy me a flower and ignored me. this movie is hiding a bigger event. otherwise if he did that ofcourse I support her

Well my previous post was mainly about the misrepresentation and false portrayal of Iran, and not about mahmoody or betty. However, your reasoning about Mahtob is logical, yet one of many possibilities. Just as it is also a possibility for Mahtob to be avoiding her father in order to avoid going back to whatever drama that may have existed between her parents. Or simply staying away due to other circumstances.

"In revenge and in love woman is more barbarous than man." (Nietzsche),

People do anything for money. It makes sense what her friend said that how can she travel through that long journey in the mountains with a child. It's difficult for women to do that. In a strange place with no facilities. And miliatry surveilance all around. The man who helps her in the movie tells her that it's the most dangerous area at that time when they travel.

@estupido7490 because of 2 reasons first the FBI and the CIA were chasing him and second he needed betty Authorization to go to america

So Betty says.

i think that both lied in the end