No One Takes My Children

by Donya Al-Nahi (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2005

  $4.25

  No One Takes My Children is the powerful account of Donya Al-Nahi's heroic quest to track down her son and daughter, after her Iraqi husband snatched two of their four children and fled to the Middle East. It is a dramatic, emotional and ultimately inspiring story of how one woman's determination and courage in the face of extremely daunting odds achieved incredible results. Born in Dundee and raised in Hertfordshire, Donya came into contact with Islam in her 20s and studied it after becoming intrigued by its strong family values. She eventually converted, taking the Arabic name she uses today. A chance meeting with a fellow convert in a street one day drew her attention to the plight of women whose Muslim husbands, disenchanted with the liberal values of the West, abduct their children and take them back to the motherland, usually in the Middle East. Enraged at this appalling severing of the mother-child relationship, Donya vowed to help the women and began a career as a professional child-rescuer. Then the unthinkable happened. In March 2002, her Iraqi husband took their daughter, Amira, five, and their youngest son, Alla, four, and fled to the Middle East. Donya immediately begged and borrowed whatever funds she could and flew there to begin the hunt. Reported sightings in Beirut and Damascus came to nothing and she was forced to return home without her two missing children. A further trip with a private detective proved fruitless and Donya's hopes of ever retrieving her children began to fade. In the meantime, however, the war in Iraq led to the fall of Saddam and the so-called liberation of the country. When she received news that her husband had entered Iraq with the children, she knew she had no choice but to follow - and nothing would stand in her way this time.

• Used

  Paperback
  2006

  $3.78

  In March 2003, Donya al-Nahi's worst nightmare came true when her Iraqi husband took their daughter and youngest son and fled to the Middle East. Donya immediately begged and borrowed whatever funds she could and flew there to begin the hunt. But the search came to nothing, and she was forced to return home without her two missing children. A further trip with a private detective also proved fruitless, and Donya's hopes began to fade. As the fighting in Iraq continued and Saddam Hussein's regime was overthrown, she received news that her husband had returned to his home town of Najaf with the children. She knew she had no choice but to follow - and nothing would stand in her way this time. No One Takes My Children is the gripping account of Donya's heroic quest. It is a dramatic, emotional and ultimately inspiring story of how one woman's determination and courage in the face of extremely daunting odds brought about the reunion of her family.