UN Experts Urge Release of Elderly British Couple Detained in Afghanistan

“Peter and Barbie Reynolds have been held for over five months… without sunlight, in degrading and life-threatening conditions,” the experts stated.

A group of United Nations human rights experts has issued an urgent appeal for the immediate release and medical evacuation of Peter and Barbie Reynolds, two elderly British nationals detained in Afghanistan since February 2025. The couple has been held without charge or trial, and reports indicate their health is rapidly deteriorating due to harsh detention conditions, inadequate food, and lack of medical care.

Held Without Charges in Degrading Conditions

Peter Reynolds, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 75, have lived in Afghanistan for 18 years, where they ran a research and training business that supported local and international organisations. In February, they were reportedly arrested by the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), the intelligence agency under Afghanistan’s de facto Taliban authorities.

Since their arrest, the couple has endured months in maximum-security facilities and underground cells. According to UN experts, they were only recently transferred to above-ground detention, but still face severe isolation, limited access to the outside world, and complete denial of effective legal or consular support.

The UN group, composed of independent special rapporteurs and members of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, expressed alarm at the inhumane conditions and called for an immediate transfer to a civilian hospital.

“Peter and Barbie Reynolds have been held for over five months… without sunlight, in degrading and life-threatening conditions,” the experts stated. “Without access to adequate medical care, they are at risk of irreparable harm or even death.”

Health in Sharp Decline

Peter Reynolds reportedly suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA) in 2023 and requires heart medication. Since his detention, his health has deteriorated, with symptoms including two eye infections, intermittent tremors, and a recent collapse. These complications raise serious concerns, especially given his advanced age and preexisting cardiovascular condition.

His wife, Barbie Reynolds, is reported to suffer from anaemia, extreme fatigue, and numbness in her feet, possibly due to malnutrition or poor circulation from extended confinement. She, too, has received no medical attention during the five months of detention.

“It is inhumane to keep them locked up in such degrading conditions and more worrying when their health is so fragile,” the experts warned.

No Due Process or Legal Representation

The couple’s detention raises grave violations of international human rights standards. The UN experts noted that Peter and Barbie Reynolds have been held without any formal charges, denied access to legal representation, and allowed only limited phone contact with their family.

The psychological impact of such arbitrary detention, especially for elderly individuals with serious health concerns, is deeply concerning. The experts referred to this as a form of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, in breach of both international humanitarian law and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which emphasizes protections for older persons and those with health needs.

Taliban Urged to Act

The UN experts have officially raised the couple’s case with the Taliban authorities and the United Kingdom government, urging immediate humanitarian action. While Afghanistan’s de facto government has yet to publicly explain the detentions, the UN experts emphasized that detention without legal cause, under life-threatening conditions, cannot be justified.

“We remind the Taliban that all persons deprived of liberty must be treated with humanity and dignity,” the experts said. “Detention conditions must take into account age and health. The psychological toll from not knowing why they are being held or when they will be released is a form of cruel treatment.”

Calls for International Action

The United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has not released official statements regarding the couple, citing ongoing diplomatic channels. However, pressure is mounting on British authorities to secure their citizens’ release, particularly in light of the UK’s responsibility to protect its nationals abroad.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have echoed calls for urgent action, emphasizing that continued detention of the Reynolds couple constitutes a breach of customary international law and could lead to avoidable deaths if medical care is not provided immediately.

A Growing Pattern of Arbitrary Detention

The case of Peter and Barbie Reynolds is not isolated. Over the past two years, several foreign nationals, aid workers, and civil society members have been detained without charge in Afghanistan amid a growing crackdown by Taliban authorities. Many remain in legal limbo, cut off from consular access and humanitarian support.

UN experts have vowed to continue monitoring the case closely, and have warned that further violations could trigger international diplomatic or legal consequences, including potential sanctions or referral to international courts.

The detention of Peter and Barbie Reynolds highlights the increasing risks faced by foreign nationals and civil society figures under Taliban rule, especially as Afghanistan remains isolated diplomatically and mired in economic and humanitarian crises. With lives at stake, the international community is being called upon to act swiftly to prevent a humanitarian tragedy.