Why Taliban has arrested British couple in their 70s
What's the story
A British couple, both in their 70s, have been arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Peter and his wife Barbie Reynolds were detained on February 1 while they were returning to their home in Bamiyan province. They have been accused of "teaching mothers parenting with children," a work they have been doing for nearly two decades.
Arrest details
Couple's educational work leads to detention
Although the Taliban has banned women from working and studying beyond primary school, the Reynolds's training programs for mothers and children had been approved by local authorities. However, their return flight reportedly did not coordinate with the local government, resulting in their arrest. Along with them, an American-Chinese friend, Faye Hall, and a translator from their Rebuild training business were also arrested.
Health worries
Family expresses concern over detained couple's welfare
After the arrest, the Reynolds were able to stay in touch with their children through text messages for three days, assuring them they were fine. However, communication stopped after that. Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, has expressed concerns over her father's health as he requires heart medication after a mini-stroke. She called their arrest "outrageous," saying her parents were just trying to help Afghanistan.
Release appeal
Family pleads for release of detained parents
Entwistle and her siblings have written an open letter to the Taliban leadership, asking them to release their parents. They stressed that Peter and Barbie had always followed Afghan laws and had preferred Afghanistan over England as their home. The family has asked the British government not to interfere in the matter.