Who Are Peter & Barbie Reynolds?
Peter Reynolds (80) and his wife Barbie Reynolds (76) are British nationals who lived in Afghanistan for nearly two decades. Since 2009, they ran Rebuild Consultancy, operating education and training programs—particularly focused on mothers and children—and continued working after the Taliban regained control in 2021
Arrest & Detention
On February 1, 2025, while returning from Kabul to Bamiyan on a private flight, the Reynolds were arrested by the Taliban along with their American friend Faye Hall and their Afghan interpreter. Alleged causes ranged from passport irregularities to suspected proselytizing; Taliban officials later described the case as a “misunderstanding” regarding fake passports, although no formal charges have ever been issued
Initially imprisoned at Pul‑e‑Charkhi, a notorious maximum‑security facility in Kabul, Peter and Barbie were later transferred to an underground cell facility under the Taliban’s intelligence agency (the General Directorate of Intelligence, or GDI)
Prison Conditions & Health
Conditions have been described as inhumane: the couple reportedly slept on floor mattresses, chained alongside violent criminals, with minimal access to medical care or natural light. Peter described his experience as “the nearest thing to hell I can imagine”
Over the months:
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Peter reportedly suffered another stroke or silent heart attack, tremors in his head and left arm, recurring eye infections, and a possible recurrence of skin cancer.
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Barbie is suffering from anemia, numbness in her feet, malnutrition, and physical weakness
UN special rapporteur Alice Edwards and other human rights experts have labeled their detention “inhumane,” warning that without urgent medical intervention they face “irreparable harm or even death”
Family Appeals & Diplomacy
The Reynolds children—living across the UK and the U.S.—maintained a media silence to respect Taliban procedures but have now issued multiple public appeals titled “Before It’s Too Late,” urgently calling for their parents’ release. They emphasize the couple’s decades of service in Afghanistan and their dual citizenship, and they reject any notion of ransom or hostage exchange
Meanwhile, UK Foreign Office officials have visited the couple to check on their welfare, but with no formal diplomatic recognition or embassy in Kabul, their leverage is limited. Qatar has attempted mediation, and calls have also reached out to U.S. officials citing precedent in securing the release of the American detainee, Faye Hall
Taliban’s Position & Response
The Taliban have repeatedly stated that efforts to secure the Reynolds’ release are ongoing. Officials claim the couple have access to consular contact, medical treatment, and family communication, and insist their rights are respected under Sharia law. However, they have provided no specific timeline or formal legal proceedings
Summary
Peter and Barbie Reynolds—a British-Afghan couple in their late 70s—have been detained by the Taliban since February 1, 2025, without formal charges or legal recourse. They remain in extremely poor health, held in prison conditions that UN experts deem life-threatening. Despite fragile medical conditions and public appeals from their family, concerted diplomatic efforts have not yet secured their release. The situation highlights both humanitarian urgency and the limitations of international influence under Taliban rule.