The British couple, who had run an education program in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years, were detained by the Taliban earlier this month, their children said in an interview with many British press.
Couples Peter Reynolds and Barbie Reynolds were arrested on February 1, according to the accounts originally given to the Sunday Times in London. The pair in the 70s have long run programs that provide education and training in Afghanistan.
According to the 2021 Taliban acquisition in Afghanistan and one of their four children, the couple decided to stay despite the potential risks.
“They were trying to help the country they loved,” the couple's eldest daughter, Sarah Entwistle, told the Sunday Times.
When the Taliban came to power, it repeated the rights of women and other groups, including imposing the government of the Islamic Republic and restricting access to education for women after sixth grade. Women are also prohibited under Taliban laws from most workplaces and public spaces such as parks, gyms and salons.
Entwistle told the BBC that she and her siblings were able to send messages to their parents for several days after their arrest. Her parents said they were in detention by the Home Office, but it was fine, she said. However, she added that she hadn't heard from them for more than two weeks, saying that after suffering a recent stroke, she was afraid of their happiness as their age and her father is currently taking medication.
Reynolds, 79, and Reynolds, 75, worked on many educational projects as part of Rebuild, a research and training company founded in 2009. daughter. “The idea that they were being held is outrageous because they were teaching mothers with children,” Entwistle told the Sunday Times.
The couple's connection to Afghanistan goes back to their youth. According to the development company's website, they were married there over 50 years ago. Rebuild is based in Kabul, but has programs nationwide.
“Under Afghanistan's new Islamic Emirate, Reconstruction wants to grow and develop new businesses with new staff, help and support their country's future,” the company's website reads. In a video from the website, released months after the Taliban control, Reynolds explains the practical training they offer. The footage shows a woman with a headscarf and a man taking part in the course, including “communication skills” and management training. Other clips show that the child is clearly learning the alphabet.
The couple's children wrote to the Taliban in a letter shared with the Associated Press, urging them to release Reynolds and Reynolds.
“They are always open about their presence and their work, and they respect and follow the law as they change,” their children wrote. “They chose Afghanistan as their home rather than their British family. They hope to spend the rest of their lives in Afghanistan.”
In their letter, the family said the Taliban knew the couple's work and had previously supported their training efforts.
“We kindly ask for the release of our father and mother and we can return to the Afghan education, training and service jobs they previously supported.”
The Taliban government and local Bamiyan officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A representative from the UK's Foreign Office confirmed in an emailed statement that it “is supporting the families of two British citizens who are detained in Afghanistan,” but refused to provide further details. .
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises all travel to Afghanistan, “increasing risk of British citizens being detained” and those who need consul support due to no embassies or diplomatic relations. It points to the “very limited” capabilities of the UK government. Taliban.
The United States also has no diplomatic representatives within the country, which similarly warns against travel to Afghanistan by American citizens. Many Westerners have been detained in the country since the Taliban seized control, with two Americans being released in January in prison exchanges.
Saphira Padosha Contribution report
