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Betrayed
As the 'war on terror' rages around her, Latifa is at war with Iraqi culture and customs. Imprisoned, abused and violated, her efforts to escape fail and her death looms closer. Working as a spy, consorting with the UN and racing for the border, Latifa has a dangerous secret that, if exposed, will threaten her life.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 28, 2009
I don't know what is more tragic about this story, the situation Latifa found herself in, or the fact that her family put her in the situation. This is the memoir of a woman that was hurt by the ones she trusted the most: her parents.
At the age of two, Latifa's father is on Saddam's "hit list" and he takes his wife, Latifa, and Latifa's baby brother across the mountains. They find refuge in Australia and Latifa leads a "normal" life.. She attends school, meets boys at the library, wears a bikini. When in her teen years, Latifa's mom decides to move her kids and herself to Germany and things start going sour. Though she preaches the Kurdistan way of life and aides the Kurdistan people, Latifa's mother is not practicing what she preaches. She has affairs, gets a divorce, wears sexy lingerie, works, and has no intention of living in her homeland again. Then she does something funny. I don't mean funny ha ha but funny as in "something stinks real bad about this." She coerces her daughter, Latifa to go to Iraq to visit a dying relative that isn't dying at all and leaves her daughter there with no passport or way of communicating with the outside world.
Her father, now living in Kurdistand again, beats her and forces her to submit to the muslim way of life in all things. She is also going to have to marry a man of his choice and when everyone finds out she is no longer a virgin (she was raped by a cousin in Germany) she will be subject to an honor killing. Latifa's father's behavior towards her leaves no doubt that he will follow thru. While suffering abuse at home and hiding behind a veil, Latifa is permitted for a brief period to work at a construction company. In hopes of attaining freedom and a ticket back to Australia, Latifa does spy work. This was kind of exciting as she learns to shoot and drive a car. (Women are not allowed to drive cars there.) She has an affair with a British man. Her attempts at escape all go wrong, however, and result in many beatings.
Will she ever make it back to Australia?? A health problem could be her ticket out. Or will her lover, David, finally come to her rescue? Will the American troops invading have something to do with it?
A tragic tale, very well told and caused my heart to pound at moments. Not only is Latifa betrayed by her parents, but later, her entire family because her escape will cut her off from them forever.
At the age of two, Latifa's father is on Saddam's "hit list" and he takes his wife, Latifa, and Latifa's baby brother across the mountains. They find refuge in Australia and Latifa leads a "normal" life.. She attends school, meets boys at the library, wears a bikini. When in her teen years, Latifa's mom decides to move her kids and herself to Germany and things start going sour. Though she preaches the Kurdistan way of life and aides the Kurdistan people, Latifa's mother is not practicing what she preaches. She has affairs, gets a divorce, wears sexy lingerie, works, and has no intention of living in her homeland again. Then she does something funny. I don't mean funny ha ha but funny as in "something stinks real bad about this." She coerces her daughter, Latifa to go to Iraq to visit a dying relative that isn't dying at all and leaves her daughter there with no passport or way of communicating with the outside world.
Her father, now living in Kurdistand again, beats her and forces her to submit to the muslim way of life in all things. She is also going to have to marry a man of his choice and when everyone finds out she is no longer a virgin (she was raped by a cousin in Germany) she will be subject to an honor killing. Latifa's father's behavior towards her leaves no doubt that he will follow thru. While suffering abuse at home and hiding behind a veil, Latifa is permitted for a brief period to work at a construction company. In hopes of attaining freedom and a ticket back to Australia, Latifa does spy work. This was kind of exciting as she learns to shoot and drive a car. (Women are not allowed to drive cars there.) She has an affair with a British man. Her attempts at escape all go wrong, however, and result in many beatings.
Will she ever make it back to Australia?? A health problem could be her ticket out. Or will her lover, David, finally come to her rescue? Will the American troops invading have something to do with it?
A tragic tale, very well told and caused my heart to pound at moments. Not only is Latifa betrayed by her parents, but later, her entire family because her escape will cut her off from them forever.
January 16, 2020
This will send a shiver down your spine.
I've hoped with her and I've cried for her when she finally made it.
What was shocking is how the mother contributed to her days as a prisoner. While she is also a victim of her bitter past, in no way does this justify what she did.
Her firm courage to escape her confinement despite the innumerable hurdles, the countless proposals is commendable and so are the people who tried to help her.
I've hoped with her and I've cried for her when she finally made it.
What was shocking is how the mother contributed to her days as a prisoner. While she is also a victim of her bitter past, in no way does this justify what she did.
Her firm courage to escape her confinement despite the innumerable hurdles, the countless proposals is commendable and so are the people who tried to help her.
March 15, 2025
Recounts her tragic story but doesn’t really help understand motivations
August 31, 2014
Betrayed and Betrayed: Escape from Iraq are the same book. The truth is that Latifa Ali, who lived the story, and Richard Shears actually titled it with the single word. However, more reviews can be found under the misnomer than the correctly titled version. Women in desperate situations often find the courage to survive them, and it is particularly heartwarming when a woman endures and escapes the horrid confines of a patriarchal setting where she is viewed as a maid, a baby-bearing machine, and can be murdered for the sake of honor. Betrayed by Latifa Ali with Richard Shears is a testimony to the bravery and resilience of Ali's strong personality and will to live in freedom again after her mother's unspeakable betrayal that abandons Ali to her demonic grandmother, cruelly abusive father, and an archaic way of life that devalues young women.
This book chills the spine as Ali shares one shocking detail after another. Parts of her memoir are remarkable in their dangerous twists and turns. Through it all, Ali perseveres. Betrayed again and again, she succumbs to temptations that could cost her life at any moment. She cooperates with those who take advantage of her deductive, educated mind in hope of escaping the prison of her grandmother's dwelling. She rebels against the aunties who torture her during her captivity. She even grovels before the father who has clearly come to despise her. But in every case, she acts to bring about her own escape.
This is a captivating, riveting read. Mostly well written, the few awkward sentence structures and odd wordings are easily excused when one realizes that Ali communicates in multiple languages and often translates thoughts or actions into English. Highlighting the vast differences between cultures that view women as people and those that hold females as essentially worthless, Ali's story is telling and should prompt action on the behalf of those who are forced to be chattel. In truth, Ali's mother ought to be prosecuted for kidnapping at an international level (why don't Germany and Australia act?). There is simply no excuse for her behavior. There is very little excuse for Ali's father's behavior either, but at least he's returned to his roots, which cannot be said for her sly, hateful, hurtful, scheming mother, who appears to be a liar, thief, and kidnapper.
This book chills the spine as Ali shares one shocking detail after another. Parts of her memoir are remarkable in their dangerous twists and turns. Through it all, Ali perseveres. Betrayed again and again, she succumbs to temptations that could cost her life at any moment. She cooperates with those who take advantage of her deductive, educated mind in hope of escaping the prison of her grandmother's dwelling. She rebels against the aunties who torture her during her captivity. She even grovels before the father who has clearly come to despise her. But in every case, she acts to bring about her own escape.
This is a captivating, riveting read. Mostly well written, the few awkward sentence structures and odd wordings are easily excused when one realizes that Ali communicates in multiple languages and often translates thoughts or actions into English. Highlighting the vast differences between cultures that view women as people and those that hold females as essentially worthless, Ali's story is telling and should prompt action on the behalf of those who are forced to be chattel. In truth, Ali's mother ought to be prosecuted for kidnapping at an international level (why don't Germany and Australia act?). There is simply no excuse for her behavior. There is very little excuse for Ali's father's behavior either, but at least he's returned to his roots, which cannot be said for her sly, hateful, hurtful, scheming mother, who appears to be a liar, thief, and kidnapper.
December 13, 2019
The true story which is a nightmare, and considered as fiction for those who are not ready to accept the truth and facts of the matter, that the event is real. It is not an everyday occurrences to have this kind of real life story, become such an incident really happen. What the Author has been through from this book, which is an Eye Opener with a big Question Mark on why a Mother, who is expected to be Compassionate, Loving, Dedicated and have Patience with Endurance, for the Welfare of her children, Abandoned a daughter through Betrayal of her trust?
An Incident like this which is a Pre Meditated Betrayal of Trust, from a mother to her daughter cannot be forgiven, if it was myself who happened being the victim. The daughter who is Author of this book "Betrayed" can never forget the past of her life, because it will keep following her like a ghost haunting every which way she move or concentrate everyday. She need to be Strong in Character, and Fight the bad memories of her past of being betrayed by someone in tge family
A story like this one which is not a fiction but true, made my blood boils to could rise of my pessure which need control, but since I love and very much Interested reading this book, the possible of raising my blood pressure higher have not deterred myself from reading. This book is fascinating, illuminating, educational, enlightening, motivating and empowering, to those who place themselves on the shoes of the Author to know how it Feels being subjected tjis kind of situation. An Inspuring book indeed to be Brave, Clever, Wise, Smart
and Vigilant at all times in our lives. An Excellent Read for Everyone who are Curious to know the feelings of being "Betrayed."
An Incident like this which is a Pre Meditated Betrayal of Trust, from a mother to her daughter cannot be forgiven, if it was myself who happened being the victim. The daughter who is Author of this book "Betrayed" can never forget the past of her life, because it will keep following her like a ghost haunting every which way she move or concentrate everyday. She need to be Strong in Character, and Fight the bad memories of her past of being betrayed by someone in tge family
A story like this one which is not a fiction but true, made my blood boils to could rise of my pessure which need control, but since I love and very much Interested reading this book, the possible of raising my blood pressure higher have not deterred myself from reading. This book is fascinating, illuminating, educational, enlightening, motivating and empowering, to those who place themselves on the shoes of the Author to know how it Feels being subjected tjis kind of situation. An Inspuring book indeed to be Brave, Clever, Wise, Smart
and Vigilant at all times in our lives. An Excellent Read for Everyone who are Curious to know the feelings of being "Betrayed."
November 25, 2017
READ THIS BOOK! I read this book in three days. I could not put it down. It has left me with sick with worry and sadness for the Kurdish women stuck in such an archaic culture that treats women as slaves and property. My heart breaks for the children of the women who are the victims of honor killings/ honor murders. Such is the sad state of humanity that these cultures, these beliefs still exist and are practiced my men, and forced upon them by men and, amazingly, other women. Read this book!!! It will open your eyes to a seriously tragic reality being lived by millions of women in Kurdistan, the so called more " westernized" areas of the middle east.
May 14, 2019
Couldn't put this book down. Wish I knew how to help these poor Kurdish women.
I loved it! Wish I knew how to help people trapped in bondage. To think of women or anyone treated this way makes my blood boil.
I loved it! Wish I knew how to help people trapped in bondage. To think of women or anyone treated this way makes my blood boil.
February 19, 2017
What a courageous woman.
March 27, 2014
What a phenomenal book. How can parents betray their children like this? How can they take children brought up in a western culture, with so much freedom of expression and freedom of choice, and put them into such an archaic, barbaric and ancient culture, then expect them to fit in?
What an extraordinary story Latifa has to tell here, one she should not have had to tell. She is also an unbelievably brave young woman and to go up against the horrific and ancient rules of Iraq, that are so out of date simply because that country has not kept pace with the rest of the progressing world, must have been an enormous battle of wills for her.
It just goes to prove how the reputation of those countries in the Middle East, for being untrustworthy, is quite spot on and how other countries who negotiate with them, can never trust their word. It must be inherently difficult for anyone to get anything concrete in agreement from people who don't want to keep pace with the modern world.
I really felt for Latifa, having to step back hundreds of years in time, to a culture which still degrades women, offends women, and will post blame on women for everything.
How we in the educated, progressive world, have no real idea about cultures like this.
Congratulations to Latifa for escaping with her life, so she could live to write about her ordeal and let the world know more about things we have left in history by hundreds of years.
And a huge thank you to the Americans who saved her.
What an extraordinary story Latifa has to tell here, one she should not have had to tell. She is also an unbelievably brave young woman and to go up against the horrific and ancient rules of Iraq, that are so out of date simply because that country has not kept pace with the rest of the progressing world, must have been an enormous battle of wills for her.
It just goes to prove how the reputation of those countries in the Middle East, for being untrustworthy, is quite spot on and how other countries who negotiate with them, can never trust their word. It must be inherently difficult for anyone to get anything concrete in agreement from people who don't want to keep pace with the modern world.
I really felt for Latifa, having to step back hundreds of years in time, to a culture which still degrades women, offends women, and will post blame on women for everything.
How we in the educated, progressive world, have no real idea about cultures like this.
Congratulations to Latifa for escaping with her life, so she could live to write about her ordeal and let the world know more about things we have left in history by hundreds of years.
And a huge thank you to the Americans who saved her.
April 24, 2012
I'd thought that Kurdistan was relatively free and its people living under a more just social system than the rest of Iraq during the Saddam years.
Wrong.
Latifa Ali's memoir shows a degraded and corrupt society. Absolute power corrupts not only governments but people in their own homes. Latifa Ali was a slave in Kurdistan, simply because she was a woman and because "honor killings" are accepted there. Her own mother betrayed her when she wouldn't marry a man who raped her, leading to her imprisonment in her father's house in Kurdistan. Tradition gave her father the right to kill her - and comes very close. She will certainly die if her father forces her to marry, for her bridegroom will discover she's not a virgin.
A distant cousin's death haunts her - the woman, in her 20s, had been the victim of malicious gossip, and her husband's family, shamed, took her to a field, drenched her in gasoline, and set her on fire. That dead woman's children, at the time Ali was writing, were the despised servants of their paternal grandmother, convicted by the rumor of their mother's guilt.
Ali takes pains to disassociate Islam from this despicable and brutal culture. It's the new "Not Without My Daughter."
Wrong.
Latifa Ali's memoir shows a degraded and corrupt society. Absolute power corrupts not only governments but people in their own homes. Latifa Ali was a slave in Kurdistan, simply because she was a woman and because "honor killings" are accepted there. Her own mother betrayed her when she wouldn't marry a man who raped her, leading to her imprisonment in her father's house in Kurdistan. Tradition gave her father the right to kill her - and comes very close. She will certainly die if her father forces her to marry, for her bridegroom will discover she's not a virgin.
A distant cousin's death haunts her - the woman, in her 20s, had been the victim of malicious gossip, and her husband's family, shamed, took her to a field, drenched her in gasoline, and set her on fire. That dead woman's children, at the time Ali was writing, were the despised servants of their paternal grandmother, convicted by the rumor of their mother's guilt.
Ali takes pains to disassociate Islam from this despicable and brutal culture. It's the new "Not Without My Daughter."
November 12, 2012
When i picked this book for my history class, i was kinda scared. I thought i would be bored of it but it turns out this was a great book. I felt for Latifa through out the whole book. Angry that she was treated in such a manner and also everyone who said they would help her out of her country turned their backs on her. Of course i was really happy at the end when she was rescued by the U.S. troops. I also loved this book because it talked about life during 9/11. I got to see it through another person's eyes and it was interesting. Really loved the book and happy i picked it out for my history class.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2011
Her strength, courage & resolve in this awful situation are to be commended. This is the story of a woman who grew up in westernised culture then be betrayed by her family & come to tell the tale. This book is well written & I found devouring it like a thriller. This made me reflect on how fortunate we are in the western world. Good luck Lafita & all those women you go onto help.
My one critism of the book is the early placing of the photographs in the book that gave her story away before it was told.
My one critism of the book is the early placing of the photographs in the book that gave her story away before it was told.
August 4, 2015
The betrayal of this woman's parents is heartbreaking, especially the mother. Though I don't condone the father's violence for even a minute, being abandoned by a mother who was smart enough to 'escape' herself is unimaginable. The fact that Latifa Ali was forced to endure such a life and be what she is today is nothing short of a miracle. I can't use I 'enjoyed' this book because it was too sad, but I did appreciate it.
February 13, 2016
Latifa - one of many Kurds, but thanks to incredible stubbornness, unshakeable will and courage, one of the rare who manage to escape from the hell of male world ruled by Muslim fanatics. After reading this book I have one reflection: it is interesting what would happen with the character if she, being still in Germany, revealed the truth to her mother about loosing mindlessly her virginity; would she avoid forced return to Kurdistan and chilling fight for freedom?...
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January 17, 2011I just listened to a podast with this author on the Leonard Lopate show and i am very interested in this book. Bummed its not available on an ereader beause i'd like to read it on my trip tomorrow. Ao will now see if library system has it..
August 5, 2013
Easy-read and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire book. My only grievance is that the story seemed to end abruptly. I found this by chance in a used bookstore and decided to give it a try as it was only $2.00. It was definitely a bargain and I strongly recommend reading it.
March 7, 2010
An amazing memoir of a Australian/Kurdish woman's plight. Her strength, courage and overall will to live are something to be admired in a culture where women are so limited in their independence.
July 6, 2011
Loved this book
August 24, 2015
I'm still curious what's the reason from her mother's side!! She leave it without explanation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2015
Very insightful book.
October 16, 2015
Riveting story, and, on a side note, made my proud of my home country at the end. Bu this isn't a book to read when you're in the mood for good literature.
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