British Couple 'dying in Taliban Jail'

An American woman who was detained by the Taliban alongside a British couple has issued a desperate warning about their deteriorating health, saying they are “literally dying” in prison.

Faye Hall was arrested on 1 February with Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, while travelling back to Bamiyan Province, Afghanistan, where the couple had lived for nearly two decades. Although Hall was released after two months, the Reynoldses remain behind bars with no explanation despite four court appearances.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast in her first interview since being freed, Hall said she feared for their survival. “I love them, I know they will be out very soon, don’t ever give up,” she said tearfully.

The couple, who married in Kabul in 1970, obtained Afghan citizenship and ran a charity programme that was formally approved by the Taliban in 2021. Despite this, they were detained along with an interpreter after being stopped at a checkpoint during a private flight from Kabul to Bamiyan.

Hall described grim conditions inside the prisons, including cramped cells, barbed wire, armed guards, and a maximum-security facility housing violent offenders. She warned that Barbie had become severely weakened, sometimes unable to walk, while Peter’s health was worsening despite daily medication supplied by the Qatari government following heart surgery and cancer treatment.

The pair’s son has also voiced fears that his parents may not survive, citing Peter’s convulsions and Barbie’s malnutrition. In July, the United Nations condemned their detention as “inhumane,” warning that they could die without urgent medical care.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has said it is providing support to the Reynolds family but has not confirmed the reason for the couple’s arrest.

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Key Takeaways

Faye Hall, a US citizen, says British couple Peter and Barbie Reynolds are “dying” in Taliban custody.

The couple, aged 80 and 76, face serious health risks despite their charity being approved by the Taliban.

The UN has warned they may perish in prison without immediate medical intervention.

Adapted From:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm28jd2enz5o