British couple detained by Taliban as family’s plea for urgent medical aid grows

16 March 2025 , 19:43

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British couple detained by Taliban as family’s plea for urgent medical aid grows

A British man’s ‘life is in danger’ with his health deteriorating since he and his wife were detained in Afghanistan.

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, aged 79 and 75, were travelling home to the country’s Bamyan province when they were arrested on February 1.

They have since been separated and moved to a high-security prison in an undisclosed location, their daughter Sarah Entwistle told The Sunday Times.

She said: ‘We hear he now has a chest infection, a double eye infection and serious digestive issues due to poor nutrition.

‘Without immediate access to necessary medication, his life is in serious danger.

‘Our desperate appeal to the Taliban is that they release them to their home, where they have the medication he needs to survive.

‘We believe this request should be viewed not merely as a plea, but as a unique opportunity to demonstrate an unforgettable act of kindness that will resonate around the world.’

Barbie and Peter Reynolds won praise for their work with women – despite the Taliban banning women from work, university and school (Picture: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)

Barbie and Peter have spent decades living, working and travelling in Afghanistan.

They married in its capital Kabul in 1970, and for the last 15 years, they have run training projects in schools.

When the Taliban seized power again in 2021, the university sweethearts – both Afghan citizens – stayed.

Barbie was even the first woman issued a certificate of appreciation by the Taliban for their work, which includes teaching parenting skills to mothers.

‘The Taliban leaders were so impressed and inspired by the programmes Mum and Dad were offering, they said they would like them set up in every province of Afghanistan’, Sarah previously said.

Now she fears this work is the real reason her parents have been detained in a country where women are banned from work and education.

Bamyan province was famous for its 1500-year-old Buddha statues carved into the cliffside before the Taliban destroyed them (Picture: Xinhua/Shutterstock)

The Taliban says they were arrested – along with their American friend, Faye Hall – for not co-ordinating their private rental flight with the local government.

In a statement last month, Taliban official Abdul Mateen Qani said: ‘A series of considerations is being taken into account, and after evaluation, we will endeavour to release them as soon as possible.’

The couple’s family reportedly does not want the UK government involved with the case.

Even if they did, there is little they could do. The UK doesn’t recognise the Taliban government, and it has no embassy in Afghanistan.

Four British men were held by the Taliban for up to 10 months before their release in October 2023.

The Foreign Office warns against all travel there, saying: ‘The security situation is volatile. Travel throughout Afghanistan is extremely dangerous and border crossings may not be open.

‘There is a heightened risk of British nationals being detained in Afghanistan.

‘If you are a British national and you are detained in Afghanistan, you could face months or years of imprisonment. FCDO’s ability to help you is extremely limited and support in person is not possible in Afghanistan.’

David Wilson