British couple in their 70s arrested by Taliban
A British couple in the 1970s were arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife, Barbie, 75, returned to their home in Bamiyan when they were detained on February 1.
The couple has been running training programs in Afghanistan for 18 years. Their daughter Sarah Entwistle told the Sunday Times That’s “they just want to help the country they love.”
The arrest of the couple is not clear, but the projects carried out by them include a training of mothers and children, which has apparently been approved by local authorities despite the ban on working in the Taliban and educating older girls.
The couple first met at the University of Bath and got married in Kabul in 1970. They have been conducting training programs in five schools in Kabul since 2009 and one program in Bamiyan’s training of mothers and children.
Although most of their employees left with most Westerners when the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Mr. Reynolds and Mrs. insisted on staying.
Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, lives in the Sunday Times in Daventry, Northamptonshire: “They say that when Afghans need it, they will not be able to leave.
“Even if they keep changing, they follow the rules wholeheartedly.”
After being arrested, the couple was initially able to keep in touch with their four children via text messages. The family knew their parents were “held by the Ministry of the Home Office” and assured them they were “good”.
However, three days later, the text stopped. Since then, the kids have heard nothing.
Their daughter told the Times: “My mother is 75 and my father is nearly 80 and he (he) needs his heart medication after the mini hit. They just want to help the country they love. And It is outrageous for children to teach their mothers.”
Their daughter and her three brothers also wrote to the Taliban and begged them to release their parents, according to the newspaper.
“We don’t understand why they were arrested,” they wrote. “They have conveyed their trust in you and as Afghan citizens they will be treated well.”
“We recognize that in some cases, communication is good for your government and the Western nations. However, our parents have been expressing their commitment to Afghanistan and pointing out that they would rather sacrifice their lives than be a ransom negotiation Part or transaction.
The family is in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but the aid is restricted by the fact that Britain does not recognize the Taliban and has no embassy in Kabul.
Official Taliban sources told the BBC they arrested British nationals who they believe are working at a non-governmental organization (NGO) in the province of Bamiyan.
One official said they were arrested about 20 days ago.
Taliban announces women Working for NGOs will be banned in 2022 Last December Al Jazeera reports The government has said it will close any NGOs that employ women.
