British Couple's Ordeal: Released from Taliban Detention After Months in Fear

Tue Sep 23 2025 09:11:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Peter and Barbie Reynolds, after extensive detention in Afghanistan, recount their harrowing experience and the diplomatic efforts that led to their release. An exploration of their dedication to humanitarian work and the challenges faced during their imprisonment.

Peter, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, spent seven and a half months in Taliban detention across 10 prisons, fearing for their lives. Their release, facilitated by diplomatic negotiations, brings to light their humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan over the past two decades, casting a shadow on the chaotic state of the region. The couple expresses gratitude for their return to the UK while reflecting on their deep connections to the Afghan people.

A British couple released by the Taliban in Afghanistan last week say they were detained in 10 different prisons and at one point thought they would be executed.

Peter, 80, and wife Barbie Reynolds, 76, said it was never explained to them why they were being held, nor why they were released.

The couple, who have run a charity programme in Afghanistan for almost two decades, arrived back in the UK on Saturday after seven and a half months in detention.

Good, old-fashioned diplomacy ended their ordeal, Hamish Falconer, minister for the Middle East, told the BBC, and again thanked the government of Qatar, which helped mediate their release.

Both suffered health problems while in prison, including severe anaemia. Taliban officials maintained they received adequate medical care during their detention and that their human rights were respected.

They were arrested on 1 February this year after taking a chartered flight from Kabul to Bamiyan province. A spokesperson for the Taliban foreign ministry, speaking after their release, said they had served their time but did not reveal the reasons for their detention.

One of the prisons Peter and Barbie were held in was Pul-e-Charkhi, a notorious maximum security prison outside Kabul that is home to some of the most dangerous criminals. At one point they were held in basement cells with no windows for two months, and for the final weeks of their detention they were moved above ground, where they say they had access to better food and were treated with kindness.

Back in the UK, after nearly eight months of oily and salty prison food, Barbie noted how she would like to have some salad and marmite, while Peter was craving baked beans. They stated they won't be returning to Afghanistan for now, emphasizing confidence in the Afghan people to foster positive change without their presence.