After enduring nearly eight months in detention, an elderly British couple in Afghanistan has finally been freed. Their release follows intense advocacy from their family and increased diplomatic efforts to secure the freedom of Western citizens held by the Taliban.
Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, dedicated nearly two decades to running vital education programs across Afghanistan. They were taken into custody by authorities this past February.
On Friday, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesperson for the Afghan foreign ministry, announced their release via social media. He stated that the couple had ‘violated the laws of Afghanistan’ and were freed ‘following the judicial process.’ However, he offered minimal specific details regarding the accusations leveled against them.
The couple’s arrest occurred on February 1st as they returned to their home in Bamiyan Province, located in central Afghanistan. Since 2009, they had been operating a development company focused on providing education and training within the country.
An Afghan official confirmed that the Qatari government played a crucial role in facilitating their safe release.