Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – An elderly British couple, Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, have been detained by the Taliban for over 20 days after being arrested on February 1 in the central Afghan city of Bamiyan. The couple, who have been running training projects for mothers and children in Afghanistan since 2009, were taken into custody by the Taliban’s interior ministry while returning from a training session.
The Reynolds, who married in Kabul in 1970, have dedicated years to supporting Afghan communities through education and training programs. Despite the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education for those aged 12 and over, their projects were believed to have been approved by local authorities. However, their work has now landed them in custody, with the Taliban accusing them of violating the regime’s strict education policies.
Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, who lives in Daventry, Northamptonshire, told the BBC that she last heard from her parents over two weeks ago. Initial text messages assured her they were “fine,” but contact has since ceased entirely. Sarah expressed deep concern for her parents’ well-being, particularly her father, who suffered a mini-stroke and relies on heart medication to stay alive. Reports indicate that Peter has been denied access to his medication while in custody.
Sarah and her siblings have penned a joint letter to the Taliban, pleading for their parents’ release. “They were just trying to help the country they loved,” Sarah told the Sunday Times. “The idea they are being held because they were teaching mothers with children is outrageous.”
The couple’s arrest has sparked outrage among their friends and colleagues. An employee described them as “the most honourable people I have ever met,” while their American friend, Faye Hall, and a translator who worked with them were also arrested.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Afghanistan has seen a crackdown on education, particularly for women and girls. The Reynolds chose to remain in the country despite the risks, believing their work was vital for Afghan families. “They said they could not leave when Afghans were in their hour of need,” Sarah told the Sunday Times. “They were meticulous about keeping by the rules even as they kept changing.”
The international community is now calling for the couple’s immediate release, with human rights organizations highlighting the dire situation facing educators and aid workers in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. As the Reynolds’ family awaits news, their case underscores the challenges of providing humanitarian support under one of the world’s most repressive regimes.
