Peter and Barbie Reynolds, a British couple, have been imprisoned by the Taliban for five months, alarming their son with the deteriorating health conditions they face. Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC that his parents, who had lived and worked in Afghanistan for 18 years, are facing severe health issues. Peter has been suffering from convulsions, while Barbie is experiencing extreme anaemia and malnutrition.
The couple was arrested on February 1 while attempting to return home to central Bamiyan, and their son describes his family's ordeal as "harrowing." The UN has condemned their detention, highlighting the inhumane conditions and the urgent need for medical care, warning they could perish without it.
Despite being deemed innocent by a judge, Jonathan states that his parents are enduring harsh treatment in maximum-security conditions. “My dad was chained to murderers and criminals," he expressed, revealing they were once held in a windowless basement for six weeks. Their situation has sparked international concern, with the UN advocating for their immediate release and questioning the rationale behind their detention.
The couple celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in captivity, which Jonathan described as bittersweet. Though he is grateful they are together, he worries they are not safe. The Foreign Office has been in communication with the family, but the uncertainty and delay in their release remain a source of deep concern.
While the Taliban has claimed they aim to release the couple soon, their family anxiously awaits any progress. With no access to proper medical care, the health of Peter and Barbie remains critical, raising alarms about their potential fate if they continue to be held in such conditions.
