The son of a British couple detained in Afghanistan has voiced grave fears concerning their wellbeing, suggesting they may not survive their imprisonment. Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, were arrested on February 1 while returning from their home in Bamiyan province, and since then, their health has significantly declined.
Jonathan Reynolds has detailed alarming health issues, indicating that his father is experiencing severe convulsions and his mother is displaying symptoms of malnourishment and anaemia. The United Nations has echoed these concerns, describing their detention conditions as “inhumane” and stressing that their lives are at risk without prompt medical care.
Five months into their detention, Jonathan described the experience as “harrowing and surreal,” particularly in light of reports that they have been held in rough prison conditions, including maximum security cells, despite being deemed innocent by a judge. There are no formal charges against them; however, they continue to endure harsh conditions.
“Dad has been chained alongside hardened criminals,” Jonathan stated, sharing that they were once confined in a dark basement for six weeks without exposure to sunlight. Their last communication on June 15 revealed the precarious state of their health.
The 80-year-old father's health is deteriorating rapidly, and Jonathan fears he is developing symptoms akin to early Parkinson's disease, with persistent tremors affecting his mobility. Jonathan raised alarms after detailing that his father convulsed for 30 minutes on a prison floor before being moved to a mattress for rest. Meanwhile, Barbie’s healthcare has been inadequate, resulting in her “blue hands and feet,” symptoms connected to severe lack of nutrition.
Jonathan reported uncertainty regarding his parents' exact location and expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises of their imminent release. This situation grows direr as he recounts the weekly updates from authorities that have turned into endless waits.
Despite their incarceration, Jonathan expressed his gratitude for the UK Foreign Office's communication with the family during this difficult time. The couple's recent birthdays in prison and their 55th wedding anniversary offer a bittersweet reminder of their long life together, yet they remain bound by incarceration.
The UN has urged an immediate review of their detention, questioning the rationale behind keeping such elderly individuals in these conditions. They have advocated for the immediate transfer of the Reynolds to a civilian hospital, emphasizing the urgent need for medical assistance.
The couple, who married in Kabul in 1970 and later became Afghan citizens, had created educational initiatives in Afghanistan, promoting mothers and children’s training, activities once acknowledged by local authorities. However, this has become controversial given the Taliban's restrictions on education and work for women.
Taliban representatives have indicated intentions to release the couple “as soon as possible”, yet concerns about their health are mounting. Meanwhile, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office has maintained that support for British citizens in Afghanistan remains severely compromised following the diplomatic withdrawal after the Taliban regained control in 2021.
