LONDON — A couple from the UK, both in their 70s, who have dedicated their lives to education initiatives in Afghanistan, have reportedly lost contact with their family after their detention by Taliban forces earlier this month, according to their children.
The family has made an appeal to Taliban authorities for the release of Peter and Barbie Reynolds. Their four adult children shared that the couple has been residing in Afghanistan for nearly 18 years, continuing their work even after the Taliban regained control in 2021.
The couple operates an organization named Rebuild, which offers educational and training programs aimed at businesses, government entities, educational institutions, and NGOs. A project highlighted by The Sunday Times focuses on education for mothers and children, which has become increasingly challenging under the Taliban’s strict regulations on women’s rights and education.
In a letter directed to the Taliban, the children expressed their parents’ commitment to Afghanistan, emphasizing their adherence to local laws throughout the years. They noted, “They have chosen to make Afghanistan their home rather than return to their family in England, and they hope to continue living there for the rest of their lives.”
The family has kindly requested that the couple be allowed to return to their important work in education, stating that the Taliban has previously expressed support for such endeavors.
It was mentioned by the children that their parents had specifically asked the British government to refrain from intervening in their situation. The Foreign Office in Britain has not commented on the matter.
Reports from Rebuild indicate that the couple was taken from their residence in the Nayak region of Bamiyan province, along with another foreign national and an Afghan individual.
In a communication to AP, Rebuild confirmed that the couple had been living in Bamiyan for over two years and held Afghan identity cards. It was noted that the Taliban had previously conducted searches of their home and had temporarily taken the couple to Kabul before returning them to Bamiyan.
The organization also relayed that a delegation from Kabul, accompanied by local Bamiyan officials, subsequently took them to Kabul once again. “It has now been approximately 17 days, and we still have no information regarding their whereabouts,” Rebuild stated. The Taliban government has not provided any comments on this situation.
