British couple held in Afghanistan ‘might die in jail,’ son warns

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The son of a British couple detained by the Taliban 5 months in the past has advised the BBC that he fears they might die in jail.

Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie, 76, have been arrested on 1 February whereas returning to their residence in central Bamiyan province, Afghanistan.

Their son Jonathan Reynolds stated their well being was quickly deteriorating, together with his father struggling severe convulsions and his mom "numb" from anaemia and malnutrition.

The UN has additionally warned that they might perish "in such degrading circumstances" if they don't obtain medical care directly, calling their detention "inhumane".

A Taliban official advised the BBC in February that the group deliberate to launch the couple "as quickly as potential".

Mr Reynolds stated it had been a "harrowing and surreal" 5 months ready for the discharge of his dad and mom, who lived in Afghanistan for 18 years and ran schooling initiatives.

He stated that they had been held in harsh circumstances - together with a most safety jail - regardless of being "deemed harmless" by a choose and dealing with no expenses.

"My dad was chained to murderers and criminals," he advised BBC Radio 4's At the moment programme, including that that they had at one level been held in a basement for six weeks with out daylight, and never allowed out.

The couple revealed "simply how dangerous their well being is" once they final had contact with their kids on 15 June, Mr Reynolds stated.

"My dad's well being is deteriorating quick specifically," he stated of the 80-year-old, who has a historical past of minor coronary heart assaults.

"Now he is possibly bought one thing like early Parkinson's - tremors and shakes down the fitting aspect of his physique, his arms and face," he advised BBC Breakfast.

He added that his father spent "half an hour convulsing on the jail flooring" earlier than his spouse referred to as for a jail guard to maneuver him onto a "mattress pad on the ground" serving as a mattress.

Mrs Reynolds "has blue fingers and toes to do with anaemia, malnutrition, simply not getting the fitting healthcare," he added.

Mr Reynolds stated he didn't know his dad and mom' precise location - and that he was uncertain "that the demand has been made for his or her fast launch".

"Each week it looks as if we're advised 'simply wait two or three extra days now… simply grasp tight'.

"Week after week we're advised that - they usually're nonetheless in jail."

Nevertheless, he stated he was grateful to the International Workplace (FCDO) for the extent of communication with the household.

The couple have each had birthdays in jail, and final week marked their fifty fifth marriage ceremony anniversary.

Mr Reynolds stated: "I am grateful they have been collectively, however they're definitely not free."

The UN likewise warned on Monday that the pair's well being was rapidly declining, and questioned why they have been being held in any respect.

"With out entry to satisfactory medical care, they're susceptible to irreparable hurt and even dying," learn an announcement by the UN's human rights physique, which referred to as for his or her fast switch to a civilian hospital.

"We see no motive why this older couple ought to be detained in any respect, and have requested a direct evaluation of the grounds of their detention.

"It's inhumane to maintain them locked up in such degrading circumstances and extra worrying when their well being is so fragile.

It added that it had raised the couple's case with the Taliban and the UK.

Mr and Mrs Reynolds married in Kabul in 1970 and later turned Afghan residents.

They'd been operating coaching initiatives in Afghanistan, together with one which concerned coaching moms and kids.

Their work had apparently been accepted by the native authorities regardless of the Taliban banning schooling for women over 12-years-old and never permitting girls to work.

Taliban official Abdul Mateen Qani stated in February: "A sequence of concerns is being taken under consideration, and after analysis, we are going to endeavour to launch them as quickly as potential."