British Couple Detained by Taliban Set to Appear in Afghan Court
Peter and Barbie Reynolds face uncertain legal proceedings as health concerns mount.
Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, are scheduled to appear in court in Kabul on Thursday following their detention by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The couple was arrested in February while en route to their home in Bamyan province.
Details regarding the specific charges against them remain unclear.
Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, has expressed fears regarding the fairness of their upcoming trial, especially after the couple’s interpreter was also arrested, complicating their ability to navigate the legal proceedings.
Entwistle voiced particular concern for her father's health, stating that his heart condition is worsening due to a lack of access to required medication during his detention.
Reports indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have been held separately and have not had contact with one another for over ten days.
Alongside the Reynolds, an American friend named Faye Hall, who had rented a plane to accompany them, and a translator from the couple’s Rebuild training organization were also detained.
The couple has previously spent 18 years running educational programs in Afghanistan, remaining in the country after the Taliban took control in August 2021. Since the takeover, the Taliban has enforced significant restrictions, including barring women from working and prohibiting education for girls above the age of 12.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds originally met at the University of Bath in the UK before marrying in Kabul in 1970. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has acknowledged their situation, stating that they are providing support to the family of the detained British nationals.
The couple was arrested in February while en route to their home in Bamyan province.
Details regarding the specific charges against them remain unclear.
Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, has expressed fears regarding the fairness of their upcoming trial, especially after the couple’s interpreter was also arrested, complicating their ability to navigate the legal proceedings.
Entwistle voiced particular concern for her father's health, stating that his heart condition is worsening due to a lack of access to required medication during his detention.
Reports indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have been held separately and have not had contact with one another for over ten days.
Alongside the Reynolds, an American friend named Faye Hall, who had rented a plane to accompany them, and a translator from the couple’s Rebuild training organization were also detained.
The couple has previously spent 18 years running educational programs in Afghanistan, remaining in the country after the Taliban took control in August 2021. Since the takeover, the Taliban has enforced significant restrictions, including barring women from working and prohibiting education for girls above the age of 12.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds originally met at the University of Bath in the UK before marrying in Kabul in 1970. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has acknowledged their situation, stating that they are providing support to the family of the detained British nationals.
