‘We thought we would be executed’: Elderly British couple detained by Taliban say they feared for their lives in jail
An old British couple detained by the Taliban for eight months said they fear that they would be executed in the first interview since their release.
76 -year -old Barbie Reynolds and her 80 -year -old husband Peter were arrested and detained in Afghanistan on their way to their homes in Bamyan. After being released, they returned to England on Friday.
The couple, who has been living in Afghanistan for almost twenty years while running an educational company, was held in maximum security prison and endured for a long time.
“We started to think that we would never be released or kept until we were executed, Reynolds said Reynolds. Sunday Times.
The couple has announced that they have been under cell imprisonment for the last few months, so they were unaware that they were released when they were taken to Kabul airport.
“In the last few months, we have left all the awareness of what is going on in the world, we have been under cell imprisonment,” he said.
Mrs. Reynolds said that “nothing” was said about their release.
“Even when we were taken to Kabul Airport, perhaps we thought we were just flying somewhere for medical treatment.”
Instead, they were placed on a Qatar plane and flew to Doha. Mr. Reynolds said that the worst moment of the ordeal came when the couple encountered a detailed period, that is, they separated their 55th anniversary.
“It was the hardest thing to lead and leave with my best friend as a couple after 55 years of marriage. At least I let me see him on our 55th anniversary, but they said no.”
His sons Jonathan Reynolds said that the family was “excited ve and the couple was released and returned to England.
In his statement on Friday, the family said: ız We are overwhelmed by gratitude and relief to share that our parents were released seven months and 21 days after seven months and 21 days in custody by our parents Peter and Barbie Reynolds.
“This is a tremendous memory of joy for our family and we are very grateful to anyone who plays a role in releasing.”
He said that they wanted to expand their appreciation to the Qatar order for their leadership and mercy, and at the same time they thanked Muhammad Al Khulaifi and Mirdef Al Qashoutii for their “tiring diplomatic efforts and their invariable supports throughout this ordeal”.
The statement said: “Their devotion and humanity had an unforgettable effect on our lives.
“We are also grateful to the British government for his devotion and support to our family, including the detention and release of our parents, including the adherence to our family, including providing basic drugs.
“We would like to thank the US government for the support of our family’s US members and UN special rapporteurs for their interventions and support.
“This experience reminded us of the power of diplomacy, empathy and international cooperation.
“Although our parents reclaim their health and spend time with their families, the way to recover is long, today is a tremendous day of joy and relief.
“We are grateful to Qataris forever because it stands with us in this difficult time.
“Thank you for giving us back our family.”
When the couple came to Qatar Doha in the afternoon on Friday, there were emotional scenes because the couple’s daughters came together with Sarah Entwist again.
While talking Sky News When Ms. Reynolds from Kabul Airport on Friday asked if the couple will return to Afghanistan in the future: ız If we can, we are Afghan citizens. ”
Taliban never explained the things that caused the couple to be detained.
The Taliban Government said that the Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in X that the couple “violated the Afghan law” and released from prison on Friday after the court hearing.
He did not say which law was accused of breaking the law.
