British pensioners jailed in Afghanistan to appear in court after the Taliban said their arrest was a ‘misunderstanding’

An elderly British couple being held by the Taliban in Afghanistan are to appear in court tomorrow – alongside their interpreter who has been now been detained as a ‘suspect’, their family have said.

Peter, 79, and Barbie Reynolds, 75, were arrested after they returned to their home in Bamiyan province on February 1.

Their property was searched, and their employees were reportedly initially quizzed by the authorities over whether the couple were preaching religion.

Their four adult children have denied their parents were engaged in religious preaching.

The Taliban then reportedly claimed the couple’s arrest was due to a ‘misunderstanding’ that they had fake Afghan passports and told the BBC they planned to release the couple ‘as soon as possible’.

But in a cruel twist, the couple, who are Afghan citizens and have run training schemes in the country since 2007, were taken to a maximum security jail in Kabul with no charges made against them.

Their family warn Mr Reynolds is in ‘urgent’ need of medical care, with his continued detention posing a serious risk to his life.

In a worrying update shared with the Mail, the Reynolds’ daughter, Sarah Entwistle, who is from Daventry, Northamptonshire, said Mrs Reynolds had called her from a pay phone to reveal the ‘distressing’ news they are to be hauled to court on Thursday.

Peter, 79, and Barbie Reynolds, 75, were arrested after they returned to their home in Bamiyan province on February 1

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Mrs Entwistle said: ‘They have not been informed of any charges having been filed against them.

‘The reason for the court hearing remains unclear.’

In an alarming twist, the couple’s interpreter, who has been caring for Mr Reynolds amid his health woes, is now being detained as a ‘suspect’ without being told the charges against him, she added.

‘He will no longer be allowed to translate for them, and is also due to be produced in court, together with them, tomorrow.

‘Mum is obviously extremely concerned that without a competent interpreter, their case cannot be accurately or fairly represented and will not be able to properly follow or engage in the proceedings, in serious breach of their rights.’

Mrs Entwistle said despite prison rules that allow family visits, her parents have been blocked from seeing each other for the past 10 days, creating an ‘incredibly difficult’ situation for them both.

She added: ‘Their health and well-being remains at serious risk for as long as they are detained.

‘We remain extremely concerned for Dad in particular. Without access to the medication he needs, his continued detention poses a serious risk to his life.’

Their property was searched, and their employees were reportedly initially quizzed by the authorities over whether the couple were preaching religion

In a worrying update shared with the Mail, the Reynolds’ daughter, Sarah Entwistle, who is from Daventry, Northamptonshire, said Mrs Reynolds had called her from a pay phone to reveal the ‘distressing’ news they are to be hauled to court on Thursday(file image of a Taliban soldier)

They called on the Taliban to release their parents and their interpreter ‘as a gesture of goodwill during this season of Ramadan’.

The Reynolds refused to flee Afghanistan when the Taliban unexpectedly seized power in August 2021, arguing ‘they could not leave when Afghans were in their hour of need’, Mrs Entwistle said.

Mr and Mrs Reynolds married in Kabul in 1970 after meeting as students at Bath University.

They have dual British Afghan citizenship and have lived in the country for 18 years.

They run five schools in Kabul, which includes a mothers and children training programme reportedly approved by the Taliban.

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