Taliban releases elderly British couple from Afghanistan detention

A British couple who has been imprisoned for almost eight months on unnamed charges has been released by the Taliban government of Afghanistan.

Following a court hearing on Friday, Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbara, 76, were released from prison and handed over to Richard Lindsay, the country’s special representative. Following Qatar’s direction, the decision was taken.

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Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, announced on social media that the couple had been detained in February for “violating” Afghan law, but he had not specified what had been done.

Officials from the UK quickly expressed relief and gratitude for the mediating nation.

According to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, “I welcome the release of Peter and Barbara Reynolds from their detention in Afghanistan, and I know that their family will greatly benefit from this long-awaited news.” “I want to pay tribute to Qatar’s crucial role.”

The Qatari Foreign Ministry announced in a statement on Friday afternoon that the couple had arrived in Doha, Qatar’s capital, and would later travel to London. Additionally, it expressed gratitude for the “fruitful cooperation” between British and Afghan officials.

Looking forward to returning

In July, UN human rights experts called on the Taliban to free them after warning of their “rapid deterioration” in both physical and mental health and stating that they “risiko irreparable harm or even death.”

Before their departure to Doha, the couple pictured together with Richard Lindsay, the country’s special representative, on Friday, with the couple standing at the Kabul airport.

“We received excellent treatment.” Barbara continued, “We are looking forward to seeing our children if we can.”

After getting married in Kabul in 1970, the couple has lived in Bamiyan, Afghanistan’s central province, for almost 20 years, and are now running educational programs. Additionally, they became citizens of Afghanistan.

The Taliban remained in Afghanistan when they reclaimed control of the country in 2021, refusing British officials’ orders.

The Reynolds family in the UK had repeatedly pleaded for their release, claiming that they were being treated unfairly and detained on unspecified grounds.

The UK’s Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan minister, Hamish Falconer, stated in a statement that he was “relieved… their ordeal has come to an end” and that the London government had “worked intensively and has supported the family throughout.”

The release comes after Adam Boehler, Washington’s special envoy to the hostages, made a rare trip to Kabul on Saturday to discuss potential prisoner exchange.

Mahmood Habibi, a citizen of the United States, is incarcerated there.