A British national detained by the Taliban for over nine weeks has shared harrowing details about his imprisonment in Kabul’s Pul-e-Charkhi maximum-security jail, describing his conditions as “the nearest thing to hell I can imagine.”
In a phone call recorded from the prison, 79-year-old Peter Reynolds expressed deep concerns for his wife, Barbie, who is held in the same facility’s women’s section under even harsher conditions.
Peter Reynolds, in his conversation shared with the Sunday Times, revealed that he is shackled alongside serious criminals, including a man who murdered his own family.
He described his living space as “a cage rather than a cell” and noted that despite his dire situation, he is in “VIP conditions” compared to the treatment of his wife. Reynolds reported significant weight loss and mentioned receiving only one meal per day.
The couple has been involved in educational projects in Afghanistan for 18 years and chose to remain in the country even after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
Their arrest occurred in early February during a trip to their residence in Bamiyan province, facilitated by a small plane rented by their friend, Chinese-American Faye Hall.
While Hall has since been released following diplomatic maneuvers by the Trump administration, which included lifting bounties on Taliban leaders, the Reynolds remain detained.
Initially, upon their arrest, they were informed that the plane had landed without proper permission, but instead of being released after clearing up the misunderstanding, their communication devices were confiscated, and they were taken to Kabul’s interior ministry. Subsequently, they were separated and incarcerated.
During his imprisonment, Peter Reynolds was confronted by the Taliban about possessing 59 books deemed “against Islam,” a claim he challenged but received no justification for.
He recounted that over 30 associates, including their accountant and tax consultants in Yakawlang and Kabul, were interrogated.
Despite a thorough investigation reported in a nine-page criminal investigation department (CID) document and finding no criminal activity, the couple has not been released.
Reynolds condemned the treatment and actions as “an utter disgrace and shame,” insisting that the Taliban acknowledge their mistake and rectify the situation.
His plight underscores ongoing human rights concerns under Taliban governance and the precarious situation for foreigners and aid workers in Afghanistan.
