Taliban moves arrested British couple to high-security prison amid growing concerns |

An elderly British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who were arrested by Taliban authorities in Afghanistan last month, have been separated and transferred to a high-security prison, the Sunday Times reported.

The couple, both in their 70s, were detained alongside their American friend, Faye Hall, while traveling to their home in Bamyan province.

Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, described the move to a heavily guarded prison as a “shocking escalation.” She expressed particular concern for her father, Peter, who is set to turn 80 in April, and has reportedly been “beaten and shackled,” causing him immense pain.

According to information from a reliable source, Peter is suffering from a chest infection, double eye infections, and serious digestive issues due to poor nutrition. Without proper medical care, Sarah fears for her father’s life.

“They have denied my mother the right to see my father,” Sarah said. “Our desperate appeal to the Taliban is that they release them to their home, where they have the medication he needs to survive.”

The Reynolds couple, who married in Kabul in 1970, have worked for 18 years running school training programs in Afghanistan. Despite the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, they chose to remain in the country after the British embassy withdrew its staff.

After their arrest on February 1, their home was ransacked, and staff were questioned about whether there was a missionary component to the training they provided, a claim which both the staff and family strongly deny.

The Taliban’s interior ministry confirmed the detention of the couple, an American, and their Afghan translator, citing “certain considerations” but has not disclosed the exact nature of the charges.

A spokesperson mentioned that efforts are underway to resolve the situation.

Since retaking control in 2021, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions, including banning girls from education beyond the age of 12 and limiting women’s participation in public life, leading the United Nations to label their actions as “gender apartheid.”