British couple detained by Taliban may die in prison, warns their son

 

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, an elderly British couple aged 80 and 76, have been detained in Afghanistan by the Taliban since 1 February. The couple, who have lived in the country for 18 years and hold Afghan citizenship, were reportedly arrested while returning to their home in Bamiyan province. No formal charges have been filed against them, and a judge had even declared them “innocent,” yet they remain in detention. Their son, Jonathan Reynolds, has expressed deep fears for their survival, saying his father’s health is deteriorating rapidly, and his mother is severely weakened.

The couple had been running educational projects in Afghanistan, including training for women and children. Despite Taliban restrictions on female education and employment, their work had reportedly been approved by local authorities. However, after the Taliban’s return to power, the environment for such activities has become extremely dangerous.

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Jonathan described their living conditions as extremely harsh. His father has suffered convulsions, possibly linked to early Parkinson’s disease or untreated health problems, and has a history of heart issues. His mother is battling anaemia and malnutrition, with blue hands and feet, and has little access to proper nutrition or care. At one point, they were kept in a basement for six weeks without sunlight. Mr Reynolds said his father was even chained alongside violent criminals.

While British officials visited the couple recently and provided a “proof of life” photo, their son remains frustrated at the lack of progress. He fears each week may be their last, as the couple has now spent both their birthdays and their 55th wedding anniversary behind bars. Despite consistent communication with the Foreign Office, the couple's release remains uncertain, and Jonathan says he does not even know their current exact location.

International pressure is growing on the Taliban to release Peter and Barbie Reynolds, whose health is declining rapidly in detention. The United Nations has issued a strong statement warning that the elderly couple could suffer “irreparable harm or even death” if they are not immediately moved to a civilian hospital. The UN described the conditions as degrading and inhumane, questioning why the couple is being held at all, especially given their fragile health and lack of any charges.

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The UN’s human rights office has demanded an urgent review of the couple’s detention and said it has raised the issue with both the Taliban and the UK government. According to the statement, keeping such vulnerable individuals in extreme conditions without medical care is a serious human rights concern.

Taliban spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani had previously said in February that the couple would be released “as soon as possible” after certain evaluations, but no progress has been made since. Five months later, their son Jonathan Reynolds is still waiting and says his parents are in critical condition. He described how his father convulsed for half an hour on the prison floor and had to be helped onto a thin mattress pad. His mother remains weak and numb from malnutrition.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has confirmed they are supporting the family but stressed that assistance in Afghanistan is limited due to the absence of a British embassy and diplomats in the country. The UK government has advised all British nationals to avoid travel to Afghanistan altogether, given the risks.

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Jonathan continues to call for immediate international pressure to secure their release, saying repeated promises of progress have led nowhere. He remains thankful for communication but emphasizes: “They’re still in prison. They are still suffering. And time is running out.”