British couple, arrested on charges of fake Afghan passports, moved to separate prisons by Taliban: Report

A British couple, who were arrested by the Taliban on charges that they had fake Afghan passports, has been separated and moved to a high-security prison, their daughter has claimed.

The couple – Peter Reynolds aged 79 and his wife Barbie, 75 – were detained by the Taliban's interior ministry on February 1 as they travelled to their home in Bamyan province on February 1.

Peter and Barbie were arrested by the Taliban alongwith an American friend, Faye Hall, who had rented an aircraft to travel with them, and a translator from the couple’s Rebuild training business.

Sarah Entwistle, the British couple’s daughter who lives in central England, described it as a “shocking escalation”, reported The Sunday Times.

The couple have been separated with Peter moved to an “undisclosed location” and his health has “significantly deteriorated”, the report said citing Sarah.

“We hear he now has a chest infection, a double eye infection and serious digestive issues due to poor nutrition. Without immediate access to necessary medication, his life is in serious danger,” Sarah told The Sunday Times.

“Our desperate appeal to the Taliban is that they release them to their home, where they have the medication he needs to survive. We believe this request should be viewed not merely as a plea, but as a unique opportunity to demonstrate an unforgettable act of kindness that will resonate around the world,” she added.

Last month, a Rebuild employee had said the group was told that their flight “did not co-ordinate with the local government”.

The three people have been imprisoned in Kabul, the employee added.

In a statement in February, Taliban had said: “A series of considerations is being taken into account, and after evaluation, we will endeavour to release them as soon as possible.”

Taliban also said that the three foreign nationals had Afghan passports and national ID cards.

About the British couple

Peter Reynolds and Barbie run school training programmes for 18 years and remained in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

They met at the University of Bath, married in Kabul in 1970.