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| British couple held in Afghanistan 'may die in prison,' son warns | British couple held in Afghanistan 'may die in prison,' son warns |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Peter and Barbie Reynolds were arrested in Afghanistan in February | Peter and Barbie Reynolds were arrested in Afghanistan in February |
| The son of a British couple detained by the Taliban five months ago has told the BBC that he fears they may die in prison. | The son of a British couple detained by the Taliban five months ago has told the BBC that he fears they may die in prison. |
| Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie, 76, were arrested on 1 February while returning to their home in central Bamiyan province, Afghanistan. | Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie, 76, were arrested on 1 February while returning to their home in central Bamiyan province, Afghanistan. |
| Their son Jonathan Reynolds said their health was rapidly deteriorating, with his father suffering serious convulsions and his mother "numb" from anaemia and malnutrition. | Their son Jonathan Reynolds said their health was rapidly deteriorating, with his father suffering serious convulsions and his mother "numb" from anaemia and malnutrition. |
| It is not known exactly why they were detained, and a Taliban official told the BBC in February that the group planned to release the couple "as soon as possible". | |
| The UN has also warned that they could perish "in such degrading conditions" if they do not receive medical care at once, calling their detention "inhumane". | The UN has also warned that they could perish "in such degrading conditions" if they do not receive medical care at once, calling their detention "inhumane". |
| Mr Reynolds said it had been a "harrowing and surreal" five months waiting for the release of his parents, who lived in Afghanistan for 18 years, where they had citizenship and ran education projects. | |
| One of these projects involved training women and children and had apparently been approved by local authorities, despite the Taliban banning education for girls over 12-years-old and not allowing women to work. | |
| Mr Reynolds said his parents had been held in harsh conditions - including a maximum security prison - despite being "deemed innocent" by a judge and facing no charges. | |
| "My dad was chained to murderers and criminals," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding that they had at one point been held in a basement for six weeks without sunlight, and not allowed out. | "My dad was chained to murderers and criminals," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, adding that they had at one point been held in a basement for six weeks without sunlight, and not allowed out. |
| The couple revealed "just how bad their health is" when they last had contact with their children on 15 June, Mr Reynolds said. | The couple revealed "just how bad their health is" when they last had contact with their children on 15 June, Mr Reynolds said. |
| "My dad's health is deteriorating fast in particular," he said of the 80-year-old, who has a history of minor heart attacks. | "My dad's health is deteriorating fast in particular," he said of the 80-year-old, who has a history of minor heart attacks. |
| "Now he's maybe got something like early Parkinson's - tremors and shakes down the right side of his body, his arms and face," he told BBC Breakfast. | "Now he's maybe got something like early Parkinson's - tremors and shakes down the right side of his body, his arms and face," he told BBC Breakfast. |
| He added that his father spent "half an hour convulsing on the prison floor" before his wife called for a prison guard to move him onto a "mattress pad on the floor" serving as a bed. | He added that his father spent "half an hour convulsing on the prison floor" before his wife called for a prison guard to move him onto a "mattress pad on the floor" serving as a bed. |
| Mrs Reynolds "has blue hands and feet to do with anaemia, malnutrition, just not getting the right healthcare," he added. | Mrs Reynolds "has blue hands and feet to do with anaemia, malnutrition, just not getting the right healthcare," he added. |
| Mr Reynolds said he did not know his parents' exact location - and that he was unsure "that the demand has been made for their immediate release". | Mr Reynolds said he did not know his parents' exact location - and that he was unsure "that the demand has been made for their immediate release". |
| "Every week it seems like we're told 'just wait two or three more days now… just hang tight'. | "Every week it seems like we're told 'just wait two or three more days now… just hang tight'. |
| "Week after week we're told that - and they're still in prison." | "Week after week we're told that - and they're still in prison." |
| However, he said he was grateful to the Foreign Office (FCDO) for the level of communication with the family. | However, he said he was grateful to the Foreign Office (FCDO) for the level of communication with the family. |
| The couple have both had birthdays in prison, and last week marked their 55th wedding anniversary; they married in Kabul in 1970. | |
| Mr Reynolds said: "I'm thankful they were together, but they're certainly not free." | Mr Reynolds said: "I'm thankful they were together, but they're certainly not free." |
| The UN likewise warned on Monday that the pair's health was quickly declining, and questioned why they were being held at all. | The UN likewise warned on Monday that the pair's health was quickly declining, and questioned why they were being held at all. |
| "Without access to adequate medical care, they are at risk of irreparable harm or even death," read a statement by the UN's human rights body, which called for their immediate transfer to a civilian hospital. | "Without access to adequate medical care, they are at risk of irreparable harm or even death," read a statement by the UN's human rights body, which called for their immediate transfer to a civilian hospital. |
| "We see no reason why this older couple should be detained at all, and have requested an immediate review of the grounds of their detention. | "We see no reason why this older couple should be detained at all, and have requested an immediate review of the grounds of their detention. |
| "It is inhumane to keep them locked up in such degrading conditions and more worrying when their health is so fragile." | "It is inhumane to keep them locked up in such degrading conditions and more worrying when their health is so fragile." |
| It added that it had raised the couple's case with the Taliban and the UK. | It added that it had raised the couple's case with the Taliban and the UK. |
| Taliban official Abdul Mateen Qani said in February: "A series of considerations is being taken into account, and after evaluation, we will endeavour to release them as soon as possible." | Taliban official Abdul Mateen Qani said in February: "A series of considerations is being taken into account, and after evaluation, we will endeavour to release them as soon as possible." |
| The FCDO has been approached for a response. | The FCDO has been approached for a response. |
| The UK shut its embassy in Kabul and withdrew its diplomats from the country after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. | The UK shut its embassy in Kabul and withdrew its diplomats from the country after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. |
| The FCDO says support for British nationals in Afghanistan is therefore "severely limited" and advises against all travel to the country. | The FCDO says support for British nationals in Afghanistan is therefore "severely limited" and advises against all travel to the country. |