British couple arrested in the 1970s, detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan – Country
A British couple in the 1970s who have carried out education and training programs in Afghanistan have been detained by the Taliban, although the couple's children say they don't know why their parents were arrested.
Peter Reynolds, 79, and his 75-year-old wife Barbie, were with another foreigner in the Nayak area in central Bamiyan province on February 1, according to the Associated Press, a report from the Associated Press. People were taken from their homes with an Afghan.
Their four adult children say their parents operate a reconstruction consultant, which provides training and education to government agencies, educational organizations, businesses and non-governmental groups.
The Sunday Times, which first reported the story, said a project was for mothers and children. The Taliban severely restricted women's education and activities.
Their children wrote in a letter to the Taliban: “Our parents have been expressing their commitment to Afghanistan and point out that they would rather sacrifice their lives than be part of a ransom negotiation or a deal.
“We believe this is not your intention because we are instructed to respect their desire to be with you.”
Although the Taliban bans education for girls over 12 years of age and does not allow women to work, the couple has run a plan for 18 years and has apparently been approved by local authorities, according to the BBC.
“They just want to help the country they love,” Sarah Entwistle, the couple's eldest daughter, told the Sunday Times.
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Entwistle told the BBC that she and her siblings had contacted their parents three days after being arrested, but were increasingly shocked after losing contact.
“Our parents have been trying to honor the Taliban, so we want to give them a chance to explain why they were detained,” Entwistle told Times Radio. “But after more than three weeks of silence, we can't wait any longer.”
In a letter to the Taliban, the siblings defended their return, believing that their parents always respect their status as foreigners in the country.
“They have always been open to their existence and work, and strive to respect and obey the law when they change,” their children wrote. “They have chosen Afghanistan as their home rather than their family in England, and they want to live in Afghanistan. The rest of your life.
“We implored to free our parents so that they could return to the work of teaching, training and service in Afghanistan that you previously supported.”
On Monday, the Taliban told the BBC it plans to release Renault “as soon as possible.”
“A range of considerations are being considered and after evaluation, we will release them as soon as possible,” Taliban official Abdul Mateen Qani said in a statement.
The Taliban did not give a reason for their arrest.
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