Not Without My Daughter

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes descriptions of domestic abuse, violence, and a brief moment in which the protagonist is threatened by gunfire.

Despite the slow progress of the escape arrangements, Amahl reassures Betty that he is planning for her departure. Betty expresses her desperation and longing to see her father and make it back home to America. As the days pass, Christmas approaches, and Betty tries to make the best of the situation, preparing a Christmas dinner and celebrating with her newfound Iranian friends. However, she feels deeply sad and helpless due to her isolation from her family.

The chapter also continues to describe everyday occurrences of life in Iran, including a bomb scare, the closure of local shops, and Moody’s developing medical practice. The chapter ends with Betty receiving news of her father’s critical condition. Overhearing her conversation with her family in the US, Moody urges Betty to go and see her father.

Moody’s sudden decision to let Betty return to America comes as a surprise to her. However, she is aware that Moody means that she must go without Mahtob, and this development worries her. She bargains for time and insists on talking to her father before leaving.