KABUL — An elderly British couple who have spent nearly two decades running training programs in Afghanistan have been detained by the Taliban, reportedly for teaching parenting skills to mothers, The Sunday Times reported.
Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife, Barbie Reynolds, 75, were arrested on February 1 after returning to their home in Bamiyan province, according to the report. The couple, who have operated training schools in Afghanistan for 18 years, had been in contact with their four children via text messages, informing them that they were being held by the Taliban’s Interior Ministry and that they were safe. However, after three days, the messages stopped, raising concerns among family members.
“This is really bad,” their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, told The Sunday Times.
According to the report, Taliban authorities raided the Reynolds’ home and questioned their employees about whether they had been engaging in religious proselytizing—an accusation that has led to the arrest of several foreigners in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
The couple, who married in Kabul in 1970, were urged by friends and family to leave Afghanistan when the Taliban seized control. However, they chose to stay, saying they could not abandon the country “in its hour of need.”
Barbie Reynolds had even been recognized by Taliban officials, becoming the first woman to receive a certificate of appreciation from the group after they were reportedly “impressed and inspired” by the training programs the couple provided.
Entwistle, who lives in Daventry, Northamptonshire, expressed deep concern for her parents, particularly for her father, who suffered a mini-stroke and requires heart medication.
“They were just trying to help the country they loved,” she said. “The idea that they are being held because they were teaching mothers with children is outrageous.”
The couple, who hold dual British and Afghan citizenship, operate five schools in Kabul, including a mothers-and-children training program that was reportedly approved by local authorities.
Entwistle and her three brothers have written an open letter to the Taliban urging their parents’ release. She insisted that her parents had done nothing wrong and were always careful to follow local rules.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds met while studying at Bath University, where Barbie earned a degree in sociology and psychology. They have spent decades in Afghanistan working on education initiatives.
Their family said the couple had previously made it clear that they never wanted to be part of ransom negotiations or hostage exchanges.
“They would rather sacrifice their lives,” the family said.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the group has imposed increasingly severe restrictions on women, barring them from public spaces, education, and most jobs. The United Nations has condemned these policies as a form of “gender apartheid.”
Taliban authorities have not publicly commented on the couple’s detention. The British government has also not issued a statement regarding their case.
