Afghan authorities have detained a British husband and his wife in their seventies. On the first day of the current month, Peter Reynolds and his wife were arrested as they made their way for their house. For little less than two decades, the pair has been managing training initiatives in the country. Their child informed the media that it had been almost a fortnight since she had last received calls or messages from the couple.
The specific reason for their detention is yet to be announces. One of their projects, potentially contentious for Taliban rulers, involves educating moms and kids. The municipal officials had allegedly given their approval. It happened even though the Taliban forbade female citizens from working. Additionally, girls beyond a certain age, have been prohibited from attending school.
The pair were wedded in Afghan capital in 1970 after first meeting at the College of Bath. They began conducting training programs in five of the capital’s institutions since 16 years ago. Another initiative that focused on training women and kids was based in Bamiyan.
When the Taliban regained control four years ago, the majority of their employees left. The Reynolds, however, resolved in remaining in Afghanistan against the wishes of the majority of Westerners.
During the first days of detention, they were allowed to communicate with their family members via text messaging. The children were aware that the interior ministry was holding their parents. Their well-being was affirmed during the first days after detention. But messages ceased three days later. Since then, the family have not received any updates.
According to one of the daughters, the family members want the Taliban to let them return to their houses and carry on with their jobs. “They said they couldn’t leave when Afghan people were in their time of need,” she told the media. The children said that although the rules were always modifying, the Reynolds were careful to follow them.
Together with their American acquaintance Faye Hall, the pair was taken into custody. Reporters cited a local source who said that one of the people detained was a translator from their company.
“The most decent people I have ever encountered” is how the source characterized the two. He said that Mr. Reynolds’ health was poor and that he had been refused access to cardiac medicines.
The Taliban has received a letter from the Reynolds children. They implored Taliban authorities to free their parents in the letter. “The reasons for their detention are unclear to us,” they said. “They have expressed their confidence in you and that they will receive good treatment as citizens of Afghanistan.”
Two British people have been held in Afghanistan, as far as the British Foreign Department is concerned. However, because the United Kingdom does not recognize the Taliban, aid is restricted.
The media has been informed by Taliban authorities that British people were detained for operating for an NGO in Bamiyan. According to a source, they were taken into custody approximately in the early February. It happened after taking a plane without telling the security officers or the Bamiyan police office.
