4 days ago
9
The daughter of a British couple in their 70s imprisoned by the Taliban has expressed serious concerns over their deteriorating health after delays to their expected court appearance.
Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who run a training business in Afghanistan, were detained last month when they travelled to their home in Bamiyan province. The couple, aged 79 and 75, who have been running projects in schools in Afghanistan for 18 years, had not been informed of the charges, their daughter said.
Sarah Entwistle said her parents had been taken to court separately and had been unable to see each other before their case was delayed.
“Mum’s health is rapidly deteriorating, and she is collapsing due to malnutrition. She and the other women are provided only one meal a day, while the men receive three,” Entwistle said. “Dad’s health is also still declining, and he’s experiencing tremors in his head and left arm.”
The family has previously said that, without access to the medication he needs, Peter’s continued detention poses a serious risk to his life.
One of the couple’s projects involved educational training for mothers and children in Bamiyan, one of the largest cities in central Afghanistan. There is a ban on women working and on female education beyond primary school, but the Reynolds’ work had apparently been approved by the Bamiyan local authority.
Despite being told that the court appearance would result in a final decision, the couple “spent four hours sitting on the floor, chained to other prisoners, before being returned to the prison”, Entwistle said.
“At the last minute, they were informed that they would not be seen by the judge. The guards indicated that a different judge would now be handling the case, and we continue to hope they will receive a fair hearing in the coming week.”
Entwistle said her mother had required support to climb the four flights of stairs to the room where the judge was located.
“There are still no charges against them, and no evidence of any crime has been submitted. We are, of course, devastated by this delay. It makes little sense, especially given that the Taliban have repeatedly stated that this situation is due to misunderstandings, and that they will be released ‘soon’.”
The couple were arrested on 1 February with their interpreter, Juya, and a American-Chinese friend, Faye Hall, who had rented a plane to travel with them. At the time an employee for Rebuild, the couple’s training company, was informed that their flight “did not coordinate with the local government”.
