The son of a British couple in Afghanistan fears that his parents may die in prison due to their deteriorating health. Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie, 76, have been detained by the Taliban for five months. Authorities arrested them on February 1, 2025, while they were returning to their home in Bamiyan province.
Jonathan Reynolds, their son, said his parents’ health is deteriorating rapidly. He explained that his father suffers severe convulsions, while his mother struggles with anaemia and malnutrition.
The Taliban has not clarified why they detained the couple. A Taliban official told the BBC in February that they plan to release them “as soon as possible.”
The UN raised concerns about their health. It warned that they might die “in such degrading conditions” if they do not receive immediate medical care. The UN called their detention “inhumane” and urged their release or transfer to a civilian hospital.
Jonathan described the wait for his parents’ release as “harrowing and surreal.” He said his parents had lived in Afghanistan for 18 years, held citizenship, and ran educational projects. One project trained women and children, despite the Taliban’s ban on education for girls over 12 and restrictions on women’s work. Local authorities approved the project.
Jonathan explained that his parents faced harsh conditions, including time in a maximum-security prison. He noted that a judge had ruled them “deemed innocent,” yet they faced no charges.
“My dad was chained to murderers and criminals,” Jonathan told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. He described how authorities confined them to a basement for six weeks with no sunlight or freedom.
Jonathan shared that their health worsened while detained. His father’s condition deteriorated, possibly due to early Parkinson’s disease, causing tremors and shakes. “My dad spent half an hour convulsing on the prison floor,” Jonathan recalled. He added that guards moved his father onto a “mattress pad” after the incident.
Mrs. Reynolds suffers from blue hands and feet, caused by anaemia, malnutrition, and lack of proper medical care.
Jonathan said he did not know his parents’ exact location. He also expressed doubt that the authorities had “made a demand for their immediate release.”
“Every week, they tell us, ‘just wait two or three more days,’” Jonathan said. “And week after week, they remain in prison.”
Jonathan expressed gratitude for the FCDO’s communication efforts. He mentioned that his parents celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary and birthdays while detained. He said, “I’m thankful they were together, but they’re certainly not free.”
The UN continues to demand that the couple be transferred to a civilian hospital. They warned that without medical care, the couple’s health would continue to decline. The UN also questioned why the couple remains detained under such conditions, calling it “inhumane.”
Taliban official Abdul Mateen Qani said in February, “We will evaluate the situation and aim to release them as soon as possible.” However, the couple remains in detention.
The UK’s embassy in Kabul closed after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. As a result, the FCDO has limited ability to assist British nationals in Afghanistan. They also advise against all travel to the country.
