An elderly British couple has reportedly been detained by the Taliban for “teaching good parenting skills to mothers” in Afghanistan.
According to Mail Online, Peter Reynolds, 79, and Barbie Reynolds, 75, were arrested on February 1 after returning to their home in Bamiyan province.
The couple, who have been running training schools in Afghanistan for the past 18 years, had been in contact with their four children via text messages, assuring them that they were being held by the interior ministry but were safe.
However, after three days, the messages abruptly stopped, prompting concern. Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, described the situation as “really bad.”
Concerns Over Their Arrest
According to The Sunday Times, the Taliban raided the Reynolds’ home and questioned their employees, reportedly investigating whether the couple had engaged in religious proselytizing.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who married in Kabul in 1970, were advised to leave Afghanistan when the Taliban regained power in August 2021. However, they chose to stay, believing they could not abandon the country in its time of need.
Despite their longstanding humanitarian work, their detention has raised alarm, especially given Peter’s health concerns. He recently suffered a mini-stroke and requires heart medication.
“My mother is 75, and my father is almost 80. They were just trying to help the country they loved,” said their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, from Daventry, Northamptonshire. “The idea that they are being held for teaching mothers with children is outrageous.”
Appeals for Their Release
The Reynolds, who hold dual citizenship, operate five schools in Kabul, including a mothers-and-children training program reportedly approved by Afghan authorities.
In a notable gesture, Barbie Reynolds was even honored by the Taliban, becoming the first woman to receive a certificate of appreciation for her work after the group was “impressed and inspired” by their programs.
Now, their children have written an open letter to the Taliban, pleading for their parents’ release. Sarah has insisted that her parents strictly followed regulations and had done nothing wrong.
“They were meticulous about keeping by the rules,” she said, as the family anxiously awaits news of their fate.
