In brief
Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades, were detained by the Taliban for eight months before being released. They will first travel to Qatar for medical checks before returning to the UK. The couple had been involved in charitable work and faced declining health during their detention, prompting public and familial appeals for help.
A British couple who were detained for nearly eight months by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been released. Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, who have lived in the country for nearly two decades, were on their way home when they were stopped on February 1. The couple was freed through Qatari mediation. A Qatari official stated they would fly to Qatar for medical checks before traveling to the UK, despite having a long-term home in Afghanistan's Bamiyan province. The Taliban has not disclosed the reason for their detention, despite four court appearances.The pair married in Kabul in 1970 and had spent the last 18 years running a charitable training program approved by Taliban officials post-2021. Their commitment to Afghanistan's development was evident in their decision to remain in the country following its takeover by the Taliban. Their release followed months of public lobbying by their family, highlighting the harrowing conditions they faced in prison. Their son reported significant health issues for his father, including convulsions, while their daughter indicated that their father's health had deteriorated drastically, with concerns for both parents revealed by the UN.Just days before their release, an American woman detained alongside them, shared grim conditions indicating the couple was 'literally dying' in prison. The Taliban claimed they received adequate medical care, while the UK Foreign Office has reiterated that support for its nationals in Afghanistan remains severely limited.
