The plight of a British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for five months, is growing increasingly dire, with their son expressing fears that they may perish in custody due to severe health issues. The couple, both in their seventies, were arrested on February 1 while heading home to Bamiyan province, though the reasons for their detention remain unknown.
Their son, Jonathan Reynolds, reports alarming deterioration in their health—his father, 80, is suffering from serious convulsions, while his mother, 76, is nearly incapacitated from anemia and malnutrition. The Taliban’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, claimed in a report that both individuals are receiving medical attention, noting efforts to secure their release, but Jonathan contends that their "human rights are being violated."
The United Nations issued a warning indicating the couple's risk of death in "degrading conditions" without immediate medical intervention, labeling their continued detention as "inhumane." Jonathan described the unsettling experience of waiting for his parents’ release as "harrowing and surreal," denouncing the harsh conditions in which they are being held — including confinement in maximum-security prison cells despite being uncharged and deemed innocent by a judge.
Regarding his father's health decline, Jonathan revealed that Mr. Reynolds has exhibited symptoms resembling early Parkinson’s disease, suffering tremors and extended convulsions that left him incapacitated on a bare mattress on the prison floor. His mother's health is equally troubling; she shows visible signs of malnutrition, with blue extremities due to inadequate care.
Despite possessing Afghan citizenship and having lived there for 18 years, where they were involved in local education projects, Jonathan feels frustrated with the lack of resolution. British officials recently visited the couple, providing photographic proof of life, but Jonathan remains disheartened by ongoing delays in securing their release. The pair has celebrated multiple significant events, including their 55th wedding anniversary, within prison walls, and Jonathan expressed gratitude for their companionship during this harrowing ordeal, though he lamented their lack of freedom.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the UN has called for an urgent review of the couple's detention circumstances and immediate medical care for their deteriorating health. A spokesperson from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office acknowledged the situation, asserting that while they are offering limited support to the family, comprehensive assistance has been curtailed following the closure of the UK embassy in Kabul after the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
The international community continues to rally for the Reynolds couple’s immediate release, urging the Taliban to recognize the humanitarian dimensions of their case and ensure humane treatment for those held within their prisons.
Their son, Jonathan Reynolds, reports alarming deterioration in their health—his father, 80, is suffering from serious convulsions, while his mother, 76, is nearly incapacitated from anemia and malnutrition. The Taliban’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, claimed in a report that both individuals are receiving medical attention, noting efforts to secure their release, but Jonathan contends that their "human rights are being violated."
The United Nations issued a warning indicating the couple's risk of death in "degrading conditions" without immediate medical intervention, labeling their continued detention as "inhumane." Jonathan described the unsettling experience of waiting for his parents’ release as "harrowing and surreal," denouncing the harsh conditions in which they are being held — including confinement in maximum-security prison cells despite being uncharged and deemed innocent by a judge.
Regarding his father's health decline, Jonathan revealed that Mr. Reynolds has exhibited symptoms resembling early Parkinson’s disease, suffering tremors and extended convulsions that left him incapacitated on a bare mattress on the prison floor. His mother's health is equally troubling; she shows visible signs of malnutrition, with blue extremities due to inadequate care.
Despite possessing Afghan citizenship and having lived there for 18 years, where they were involved in local education projects, Jonathan feels frustrated with the lack of resolution. British officials recently visited the couple, providing photographic proof of life, but Jonathan remains disheartened by ongoing delays in securing their release. The pair has celebrated multiple significant events, including their 55th wedding anniversary, within prison walls, and Jonathan expressed gratitude for their companionship during this harrowing ordeal, though he lamented their lack of freedom.
In response to the ongoing crisis, the UN has called for an urgent review of the couple's detention circumstances and immediate medical care for their deteriorating health. A spokesperson from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office acknowledged the situation, asserting that while they are offering limited support to the family, comprehensive assistance has been curtailed following the closure of the UK embassy in Kabul after the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
The international community continues to rally for the Reynolds couple’s immediate release, urging the Taliban to recognize the humanitarian dimensions of their case and ensure humane treatment for those held within their prisons.
