**British Couple Arrested by Taliban for Teaching Parenting Skills**
The Taliban have detained a British couple in their 70s, Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife, Barbie, 75, for allegedly “teaching mothers parenting with children.” The couple was apprehended while returning to their home in Bamiyan province on February 1. They have been involved in educational projects in Afghanistan for 18 years and chose to remain in the country following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. One of their initiatives focused on training mothers and children in Bamiyan, a major city in central Afghanistan.
Despite a ban on women working and restrictions on female education beyond primary school, this particular project had reportedly received approval from local authorities in Bamiyan. Alongside the couple, an American-Chinese friend, Faye Hall, who had chartered a plane for their travel, and a translator from their Rebuild training organization were also arrested. An anonymous employee from Rebuild informed the PA news agency that the group was told their flight “did not coordinate with the local government.”
For the first three days after their detention, the couple maintained contact with their children through text messages, indicating they were being held by the interior ministry and were in good health. However, communication ceased after that, and their children have not heard from them since. Their home in Nayak has been searched, and their employees have been questioned about any potential religious proselytizing, which they all denied.
“This is really bad,” stated their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, from Daventry, Northamptonshire. “My mother is 75 and my father is almost 80 and needs his heart medication after a mini-stroke. They were just trying to help the country they loved. The idea that they are being held for teaching mothers with children is outrageous.” Along with her three brothers, she has penned an open letter to the Taliban leadership, pleading for her parents’ release.
The couple met at the University of Bath and married in Kabul in 1970, having fallen in love with Afghanistan. Barbie became the first woman to receive a certificate of appreciation from the Taliban. In their letter, Entwistle and her brothers urged the Taliban to free their parents so they can continue their valuable work in schools, highlighting their dual citizenship. “We do not understand the reasons behind their arrest,” they wrote. “Our parents have consistently expressed their commitment to Afghanistan, stating that they would rather sacrifice their lives than become part of ransom negotiations or be traded.”
An anonymous Rebuild employee, who mentioned that workers are “in danger” and living in hiding, described the couple as “the most honorable people I have ever met in my life.” They expressed concern for Peter’s health, stating, “It seems that if Peter and Barbie are not released soon, Peter may lose his life because he needs medication, and the Taliban are not allowing him to have it.
