A British couple who were arrested by the Taliban are being “held in separate prisons”, with their daughter fearing that her father’s health has “significantly deteriorated”.
Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, were arrested on February 1 as they were returning to their home Bamyan province.
The couple, who first met at Bath University, have spent the past 18 years operating training programmes in Afghanistan, choosing to remain in the country even after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, revealed that they have since been separated following their arrest, with her father being moved to a high-security prison in an “undisclosed location”.
The pair have been separated following their arrest
FAMILY HANDOUT
Speaking to The Sunday Times, she also said that her father’s life is now in “serious danger”.
“We hear he now has a chest infection, a double eye infection and serious digestive issues due to poor nutrition,” she said.
“Without immediate access to necessary medication, his life is in serious danger.”
She made a “desperate appeal” to the Taliban, asking them to send her parents home, where Peter has medication he needs to survive.
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Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, were arrested on February 1 as they were returning to their homeFAMILY HANDOUT“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,” she said.
When first arrested, the couple maintained contact with their four children through text messages, informing them they were “being held by the interior ministry” and were fine.
However, all communication ceased three days later, leaving their family without any contact since.
“My mother is 75 and my father almost 80 and [he] needs his heart medication after a mini-stroke,” Entwistle had previously said.
Entwistle emphasised that her parents had always operated with Taliban permission
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The family highlighted the couple’s dual citizenship status and their desire to continue their work in Afghanistan.
Entwistle emphasised that her parents had always operated with Taliban permission.
“They were meticulous about keeping to the rules even as they kept changing,” Entwistle said.
Most of their staff and other Western residents left Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power.
