KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban authorities have arrested a British couple in their seventies, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, in Bamiyan province, reportedly for teaching parenting skills to mothers.
The Sunday Times reported that the couple, who have lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades and ran educational projects in multiple schools, were detained on February 1 along with a Chinese-American companion, Faye Hall.
The Reynolds had been conducting training programs in participatory learning and communication skills in schools, including a project for mothers and children in Bamiyan.
Their family says they initially received text messages from the couple, confirming their detention by the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior and assuring them they were safe. However, all communication ceased after three days.
The Taliban have not yet commented on the reasons for their arrest.
Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, described the situation to The Sunday Times as “really bad,” saying, “My mother is 75 and my father almost 80 and [he] needs his heart medication after a mini-stroke. They were just trying to help the country they loved.”
The couple’s home in the Nayak area of Bamiyan has reportedly been searched, and their employees interrogated.
Their children have written an open letter to Taliban leaders, pleading for their release and emphasizing that their parents, who hold dual Afghan-British citizenship, were dedicated to helping the country.
“We do not understand the reasons behind their arrest,” they wrote. “They have communicated their trust in you, and that as Afghan citizens they will be treated well.”
Peter and Barbie Reynolds had previously engaged with senior Taliban officials on education initiatives, even earning official recognition.
“The Taliban leaders were so impressed and inspired by the programmes Mum and Dad were offering, they said they would like them set up in every province of Afghanistan,” Entwistle recalled.
Their arrest comes amid increasing restrictions on women’s rights in Afghanistan, including bans on female employment and education. The UK Foreign Office is aware of the case but has limited options, as Britain does not recognize the Taliban government or maintain an embassy in Kabul.
The family has reiterated that the couple would not want to be part of any political negotiations or exchanges.
“They would rather sacrifice their lives than become part of ransom negotiations or be traded,” their children wrote.
