After enduring nearly eight months of detainment in Afghanistan, an elderly British couple has finally been set free. Their release comes after extensive efforts by their family and a renewed push in recent weeks to secure the freedom of Western citizens held by the Taliban.
Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, dedicated almost two decades to operating educational programs across Afghanistan. They were initially arrested in February.
On Friday, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Afghan foreign ministry, announced their release via social media, stating they had “violated the laws of Afghanistan” and were freed “following the judicial process.” However, he offered minimal specific details regarding the accusations leveled against the couple.
The Reynolds were taken into custody on February 1st while returning to their residence in Bamiyan Province, located in central Afghanistan. They established a development company in 2009, through which they delivered various education and training initiatives within the country.
An Afghan official confirmed that the Qatari government played a crucial role in brokering their release.