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Concerns Rise for British Couple Detained by Taliban
The family of a British couple in their 70s, detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan, has voiced urgent concerns regarding their declining health amid delays to their court proceedings.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 79 and 75 respectively, have been active in educational initiatives in Afghanistan for nearly two decades. They were detained last month during their return to their home in Bamiyan province. According to their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, the couple has not been made aware of any specific charges against them.
Entwistle reported that her parents, who have been working on projects aimed at supporting mothers and children, were taken to court separately and have not had the opportunity to see one another prior to a rescheduled hearing.
“My mother’s condition is worsening rapidly; she is collapsing due to malnutrition as she and the other women are only provided one meal a day, while the men receive three,” Entwistle shared. “My father’s health is also deteriorating; he’s been experiencing tremors affecting his head and left arm.”
The family has previously indicated that Peter’s continued detention without access to necessary medication presents a substantial health risk.
One of the couple’s significant projects involved providing educational training in Bamiyan, which is among Afghanistan’s larger urban areas. Despite existing restrictions on women’s employment and education beyond primary levels, their initiatives reportedly received approval from local authorities.
Despite expectations that their latest court appearance would lead to a resolution, the couple spent several hours chained to other prisoners without a hearing. “At the last moment, they were informed that they would not be seen by the judge, and we learned that another judge has now taken over the case,” Entwistle explained, expressing hope for a fair hearing soon.
She added that her mother needed assistance to navigate the four flights of stairs to reach the judge’s chamber.
“There are still no charges filed against them, and we have yet to see any evidence of wrongdoing,” Entwistle stated, conveying the family’s devastation over the delays. “It is perplexing, particularly given that the Taliban has suggested this situation stems from misunderstandings and have mentioned their release may happen ‘soon’.”
The couple was arrested on February 1 along with their interpreter, Juya, and an American-Chinese acquaintance, Faye Hall, who had arranged transportation for their travel. An employee from their organization, Rebuild, was reportedly informed that their flight “did not coordinate with the local government.”
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