Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
KABUL – The Taliban says the case of a British couple imprisoned in Afghanistan will “soon be resolved,” calling the charges against them a “small matter,” as concerns mount over their detention conditions and lack of transparency.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds, a married couple in their 70s, were arrested in early February in Bamiyan province and taken to Kabul, where they remain locked up in Pul-e-Charkhi prison. Taliban officials have not disclosed what they are accused of — marking over two months of silence and growing fears for their welfare.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani broke that silence on Tuesday, telling The Associated Press that the couple’s case had been passed from the ministry to the courts and would be handled under Islamic law.
“Their problem is not that big,” Qani said. “God willing, it will soon be resolved… It is a small matter and should not be a cause for concern.”
Relatives of the couple in the UK say they are being mistreated behind bars. The couple, who run an education and training charity in Afghanistan, were detained alongside American national Faye Hall — who was released on March 30 following Qatari mediation.
Hall had reportedly been held for operating a drone without permission. Her release was the fourth instance this year of an American being freed from Taliban custody.
But the Reynolds remain behind bars with no formal charges announced, no trial date, and increasing international pressure for answers.
