**Concerns Grow for Health of Elderly British Couple Imprisoned by Taliban**
The son of Barbie and Peter Reynolds, an elderly British couple detained by the Taliban for nearly six months, has voiced grave concerns regarding their health, describing their condition as “deteriorating fast”. The couple, who have devoted almost two decades to educational work in Afghanistan, were apprehended in February whilst travelling home in the Bamyan province, located in the central part of the country.
Barbie, aged 76, and her 80-year-old husband, Peter, have now spent more than five months in detention without any official charge being levelled against them. According to their family, the couple were separated and held in maximum security facilities until approximately eight weeks ago, experiencing extremely limited communication and poor living conditions.
Their four adult children, all residing in the United States and the United Kingdom, have made repeated efforts to secure their parents’ release. This has included private letters addressed to senior Taliban figures as well as public appeals highlighting their parents’ dedication to the Afghan people, particularly through the running of school training programmes. Despite these efforts, the family reports minimal progress, with the latest direct contact from their parents occurring over a month ago, on 15 June.
Jonathan Reynolds, the couple’s son, expressed deep frustration at the lack of resolution, despite ongoing support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). He remarked on the emotional strain of being able to see his parents through official visits, yet being unable to leave with them: “It’s horrific that they’re still held in captivity… Their health in so many areas is deteriorating, and it’s deteriorating fast.”
Medical concerns for the couple have been mounting in recent months. The family cited a remote assessment by a cardiologist, indicating that Peter may have suffered a stroke or a silent heart attack while in custody. Additionally, they highlighted worrying symptoms such as severe skin problems on Peter’s face, potentially indicating a recurrence of skin cancer, and persistent numbness in Barbie’s feet, possibly linked to anaemia and poor diet during her time in prison. Physicians warn that these conditions are putting significant additional strain on their bodies, increasing the risk of cardiac failure.
For much of their detention, the Reynolds were held in Pul-e-Charkhi, a maximum security prison in Kabul. While there, they were able to make daily phone calls to their family from the prison yard. However, conditions remained harsh, with little time outdoors and limited medical support. Around two months ago, they were transferred to the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), where promises of an imminent release were made, though they remain unfulfilled to date.
Since their transfer, the couple’s children report slightly improved conditions but few comforts. Barbie and Peter have reportedly spent weeks in a basement cell with little or no natural light, forced to sleep on a mattress with no other furniture. The family underscores the additional psychological toll and isolation, explaining that every communication from authorities has suggested a release was imminent, yet these reassurances have yet to be realised.
Central to the family’s ordeal is a growing sense of helplessness and unanswered questions around the authority responsible for their parents’ fate. Jonathan Reynolds said, “I don’t understand why an 80-year-old and a 76-year-old in failing health are being held without reason, without cause, without charges… We just want them home.”
As weeks turn into months, the family’s focus has shifted to imploring anyone with the power to intervene to act decisively. “We simply don’t know how much longer their health will hold out,” Jonathan added. “It would be a tragedy for them to pass away in a prison, in a country they have chosen to serve.”
The British Foreign Office has confirmed it is supporting the family’s efforts. An official spokesperson reiterated: “We are supporting the family of two British nationals who are detained in Afghanistan.” The government has not offered further public comment on the status of their release.
As the situation continues, the Reynolds’ case casts a spotlight on the risks faced by foreign nationals in Afghanistan, particularly those who have remained in the country to continue humanitarian and educational efforts under Taliban rule. The family’s harrowing experience highlights the urgent need for a resolution and underscores the precarious conditions many detainees face.