An American woman detained by the Taliban alongside a British couple has told the BBC they are literally dying in prison and that time is running out.
Faye Hall was arrested with Peter, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, on 1 February when returning to Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan, where the couple lived. While Ms. Hall was released after two months, Peter and Barbie remain in prison without clarity on the charges against them.
The Foreign Office (FCDO) stated it was supporting the family of the detained couple. Speaking in her first interview since release, Ms. Hall expressed her love for them, saying, I know they will be out very soon, don't ever give up.
Originally from Kabul, Peter and Barbie married in 1970 and had lived in Afghanistan for 18 years prior to their arrest, operating a charity program approved by the Taliban since their takeover in 2021. They had chartered a flight when detained at a police checkpoint.
Describing their imprisonment, Ms. Hall disclosed harsh conditions, including cramped cells in a maximum-security facility surrounded by barbed wire. She revealed Barbie has lost significant weight and at times, has been unable to stand due to her deteriorating health. Peter's condition is also declining, necessitating medication for previous heart surgery and cancer treatment.
Ms. Hall warned that the situation was taking a mental as well as a physical toll, stressing the dire environment, especially being the only foreigners in detention. She urged both US and UK governments to enhance efforts for the couple's release, amidst UN warnings regarding inhumane treatment.
Both governments acknowledged the challenging circumstances of their detention, with the FCDO highlighting limited support capabilities due to the embassy's closure in Kabul after the Taliban's return to power. Despite claims from the Taliban foreign minister about their ongoing communication and care, the Reynolds' family remains gravely concerned about their health and safety.
