Donya al nahi biography of william

When Donya Al-Nahi helped her friend reunite with her kidnapped child,nbsp;she embarked upon a calling that was to help hundreds of women in the same situation. These women's children are not taken by a stranger—they are snatched by their own fathers, usually Middle Eastern men who do not wish their children to be exposed to a Western upbringing, and so take the children back to the countries of origin. What started as a favor to a friend has turned into a life's work for Al-Nahi. In this book, she describes her adventures, venturing into the most dangerous parts of the world, such as Iraq, Libya and Dubai, in order to find the children and bring them home to their mothers. She has been arrested and thrown in jail, but this has not dampened her determination to do the right thing and reunite mother and child.

Her original name was “Donna”, she explains in a broad London accent. “Like the kebab.” These days, she is Donya al-Nahi, Muslim convert, mother of six and babysnatcher for hire.

Dressed in a black sequined abaya and full make-up, she is often the last resort for desperate mothers — and, occasionally, fathers — who enlist her help to snatch back children who have been taken abroad by Arab ex-partners.

She does not make a profit. As long as a parent is willing to cover her expenses and provide enough cash to pay for fixers, drivers and backhanders to border officials, she promises to do all she can to bring their child home.

“I see the pain in those mothers’ eyes,” she says. “You carry those babies, you nurture them and then they are taken away. Can you imagine?”