Two British pensioners being held in Afghanistan have been moved to a maximum-security prison and separated by the Taliban.
Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife, Barbie, 75, were detained last month in Bamyan, along with an American friend, Faye Hall, and taken to Kabul.
In what she described as a “shocking escalation”, Sarah Entwistle, the couple’s eldest child, said her father has now been moved to an undisclosed location in a heavily guarded prison and his health “has significantly deteriorated”. Her mother has been told she cannot see her husband any more.
The reason for their detention remains unclear
“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,” said Entwistle, who lives in Daventry, Northamptonshire.
Peter has also been “beaten and shackled” and is in “immense pain”, Entwistle said. The family have been provided with updates on their parents’ condition from a “reliable source”.
“Our parents’ detention is cruel and unjust,” Entwistle added. “We urge those in power to show goodwill and release them immediately. “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.”
Entwistle said the family, including her three brothers, have found out that men in the prison in Kabul are being fed three meals a day but women are only being fed once. The reason behind the couple’s detention remains unclear.
They couple in Afghanistan in 2000 on their 30th wedding anniversary
The Reynolds met at Bath University before marrying in Afghanistan in 1970. They have lived there for the past 18 years and set up their agency Rebuild, which provides training in schools, non-governmental organisations and businesses. A recent newsletter describes it as “dedicated to fostering healthy relationships in homes, workplaces and communities across Afghanistan”.
It is thought that they were detained because of a course they ran for women teaching mothering skills. The Taliban have banned all education for girls beyond primary school and almost all activities for women, including going to parks or hair salons.
Entwistle insisted her parents had local permission for the course and her mother even became the first woman to receive a certificate of appreciation from the Taliban. But they were arrested on February 1 when returning to their home in Bamyan province with their friend, who had rented a private plane to fly back from Kabul with them. They have been detained ever since.
Since their arrest, the couple’s house in Nayak has been ransacked and their workers have been interrogated to determine whether there was a missionary component to the training. Staff and the family strongly deny that they were spreading Christian teachings.
The couple are due to fly to America in April to celebrate Peter’s 80th birthday with the family.
“It will be the first time in 20 years that all 33 of us have been together in the same place,” said Entwistle. “Our parents, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. We are desperately hoping the Taliban will release them in time.”
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the family of two British nationals who are detained in Afghanistan.”
