LONDON: The family of a British couple fears for their health after their trial in Afghanistan was abruptly delayed, it was reported on Sunday.
Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75, who have lived in Afghanistan for more than 18 years and have become Afghan citizens, were arrested in February while traveling to their home in Bamyan Province.
The couple had been presented in chains at a Kabul court on Saturday but were informed “at the last minute” that their judge had been changed, delaying proceedings.
Their daughter Sarah Entwistle told The Guardian the conditions in their maximum-security prison were “brutal” and “what I imagine hell is like.”
Entwistle highlighted the severe deterioration of her parents’ health, saying: “Mum’s health is rapidly deteriorating, and she is collapsing due to malnutrition. She and the other women are provided only one meal a day, while the men receive three.”
She also expressed concern for her father, adding: “Dad’s health is also still declining, and he’s experiencing tremors in his head and left arm.”
She said that at court “they spent four hours sitting on the floor, chained to other prisoners, before being returned to the prison.”
She added: “At the last minute they were informed that they would not be seen by the judge. The guards indicated that a different judge would now be handling the case, and we continue to hope they will receive a fair hearing in the coming week.”
Mrs. Reynolds struggled to climb the four staircases to the courtroom, and Entwistle said: “There are still no charges against them, and no evidence of any crime has been submitted.
“We are, of course, devastated by this delay. It makes little sense, especially given that the Taliban have repeatedly stated that this situation is due to misunderstandings, and that they will be released soon.”
The couple, who married in Afghanistan in 1970, remained in the country following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, saying they “couldn’t leave the country and the people they love, in their darkest hour.” They were arrested alongside an American friend, Faye Hall, and their Afghan translator, Juya.
Mr. Reynolds has reportedly suffered beatings and is in immense pain. Entwistle said: “His health has significantly deteriorated. We hear he now has a chest infection, a double eye infection, and serious digestive issues due to poor nutrition. Without immediate access to necessary medication his life is in serious danger.”
Appealing for their release, she urged the Taliban to show mercy, adding: “Again, we ask the Taliban to release Dad, Mum, Faye, and the interpreter as a gesture of goodwill during this season of Ramadan.”
