Uzma Tazrian:
Remember Shah Rukh Khan’s movie Shakti? Well, the lead roles were actually played by Karisma Kapoor and Nana Patekar. But calling it Shah Rukh Khan’s *Shakti* movie makes it easier to recall. While watching the movie, I Googled and found out that it’s a remake of the Telugu film *Anthahpuram*! A Bollywood movie being a remake isn’t surprising. However, what’s shocking is that the Telugu movie was inspired by a Hollywood film from 1991—*Not Without My Daughter*. The film was based on a book by Betty Mahmoody, a woman who wrote about her true-life experiences in a book of the same name. This made me sit up and dig a little deeper.
It’s a story about Betty Mahmoody, who was married to an Iranian-American doctor named Sayyed Bozorg Moody Mahmoody. They had a daughter named Mahtob Mahmoody. In 1984, Sayyed wanted to take Betty and Mahtob to Iran for a two-week visit. Despite her fears, Betty agreed. Once they reached Sayyed’s home in Iran, it became evident to the family that Betty knew little about Islamic customs and culture. Problems occurred soon. Eventually, Sayyed confessed that he had no intention of returning to America. He had lost his job in the U.S., a fact he hid from Betty, and had brought them to Iran without a return plan. Betty tried to convince him that they could work out his career issues together back in America, but Sayyed wasn’t interested.
Betty’s life soon turned into a nightmare. She wasn’t allowed to go out or even talk to anyone on the phone. Betty and her daughter were forced to follow Sharia law. If Sayyed didn’t like something Betty said, he would brutally beat her. Betty thought his family would take her side, but they didn’t. Instead, they also mistreated her. One day, Betty’s mother called from America. Betty carefully picked up the phone and shared her situation. Her mother advised her to seek help at the American Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy in Iran. After a lot of effort, Betty managed to reach the embassy, only to be told that, under Iranian nationality law, by marrying Sayyed, she had become an Iranian citizen. Moreover, under Sharia law, without her husband’s permission, she couldn’t leave the country or make any decisions regarding her daughter. To make things worse, once Mahtob turned nine, Sayyed would have the right to marry her off or turn her into a child soldier!
Realizing something was off when Betty wasn’t home, Sayyed figured out what had happened. After Betty returned from the embassy, he threatened to kill her if she ever attempted anything like that again. To gain his trust, Betty started behaving according to his wishes. One day, news arrived that Betty’s father was gravely ill. Sayyed offered to let Betty visit her father in America, but on the condition that she leave Mahtob behind in Iran. Eventually, through various strategies, the help of kind individuals, and the support of humanitarian organizations, Betty escaped Iran with Mahtob, using Iranian smugglers. They reached the American Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, and upon seeing the American flag, after so long, Betty and Mahtob felt like they were reborn. Betty divorced Sayyed after returning to America, and her terrifying ordeal became the basis for her famous book, *Not Without My Daughter*.
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There was a lot of discussion and criticism surrounding the film at the time. Many argued that the way Muslims were portrayed was extremely racist. Some even said that if the movie had been about someone other than Muslims, it would have been categorized as hate speech in the West. In 2002, a documentary titled *Without My Daughter* was made from Sayyed Mahmoody’s perspective, directly contradicting Betty’s version of events. Finally, in 2015, Betty and Sayyed’s daughter, Mahtob Mahmoody, wrote her own book, *My Name is Mahtob*, sharing her perspective on the events. In her book, Mahtob affirmed the truth of her mother’s accounts.
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Yesterday, on October 4, Friday, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that gender and nationality alone are sufficient grounds for granting asylum to Afghan women, without the need for proof that their lives are in danger. As you may know, since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, they’ve banned girls from attending school, restricted women’s freedom in workplaces and daily life, and imposed various other forms of repression. Sharia law has been enforced in Afghanistan.
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In Bangladesh, regardless of who’s in power, women face oppression both at home and in public spheres. Many women claim that incidents of harassment in public places have increased over the past two months. Others dismiss these claims, suggesting that it’s all bogus, a political tactic to rehabilitate the Awami League using the “women or minority card.” Others argue that the deteriorating law and order situation is being used to justify handing power over to the military.
The questions here are quite simple:
– Just as marginalized groups are often used as pawns in international politics and geopolitics, is the issue of women’s rights being similarly exploited?
The answer is yes, there’s a strong likelihood that it is.
– Is the issue of women’s rights being used as a pawn in the current socio-political climate of Bangladesh?
Again, yes, probability is high.
The fact is, for various reasons, women are being oppressed. Efforts to dehumanize women are ongoing. Under the guise of women’s liberation, women are being used as frontliners in political, economic, and social movements, but when it comes to sharing power position, women’s rightful share is being denied.
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Many fear the rise of extremism in Bangladesh. This could be a result of international political manipulation, a comeback attempt by the defeated political party, or simply the anticipated emergence of long-nurtured extremism in society. Whatever the case may be, it’s a fact that in any instability—war, natural disaster, or the imposition of Sharia law—women and children are the first to suffer.
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Is the imposition of Sharia law possible in Bangladesh? Some believe that in this land Bauls and Fakirs extremism won’t be succumbed. Others see enough potential for Bangladesh to turn into another Syria, Iran, or Afghanistan. But these are all future speculations. What’s the fact here?
The fact is, we have a battle ahead of us. The fact is, every woman’s progress is built on the labor, sweat, and sacrifices of our ancestorial women. Our enlightened fathers, brothers, friends, and companions have repeatedly extended their shoulders to make our journey a little easier. Each time we are attacked or harassed on the streets, an unknown woman will stand up for us, the nearby tea-seller will reassure us. When we face domestic abuse, our friends will offer their chests as a shield, providing us with shelter.
Our strength lies in our resilience and the kinship of those with whom we share our soul. In medieval Europe, thousands of female doctors were burned alive under the witch tag, but they couldn’t stop women’s education. After Mahsa Amini’s death, Iranian women erupted in protests. The government imprisoned thousands of women, poisoning their food and killing them, yet they didn’t stop. They continue to bloom like flowers in the desert. No matter where in the world, each time the dark forces try to control our minds, rape us, sell us as slaves, or kill us, we will pass the baton to the next generation of women, just as our mothers did for us.
Because we are the granddaughters of the witches you couldn’t burn.
The article was originally published in the main site of Women Chapter: ‘নট উইদাউট মাই ডটার’ – Women Chapter
About the writer:
Uzma Tazrian has an academic background in legal studies. She likes to call herself as a feminist and activist by passion. Her hobbies include singing, traveling, reading books.