When Faye Hall, an American humanitarian, was released from a Taliban-run prison in Afghanistan earlier this year, she left behind more than just the memories of cramped cells and sleepless nights. She left behind Peter and Barbie Reynolds, a British couple in their late seventies and early eighties, whose fate has since become a symbol of the risks faced by foreigners in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Their continued detention, with no formal charges and rapidly deteriorating health, has ignited urgent calls for action from their family, former cellmate, and international organizations.
On February 1, 2025, Hall was arrested alongside Peter, 80, and Barbie Reynolds, 76, as they returned to Bamiyan Province, a region they had called home for nearly two decades. According to reporting from the BBC, the trio—along with an interpreter—were stopped at a checkpoint after arriving on a privately chartered plane. What followed was a harrowing journey across police stations and prisons, culminating in their transfer to a maximum-security facility. Hall, who was released after two months, described the experience as a nightmare. "We just have these elderly people, they’re literally dying, and time is running out," she told the BBC in her first interview since regaining her freedom. Her voice broke as she pleaded, "I love them, I know they will be out very soon, don’t ever give up."
For Peter and Barbie Reynolds, the ordeal has been particularly punishing. The couple, who married in Kabul in 1970 and spent 18 years working in Afghanistan, ran a charity program that had been approved by the Taliban after their 2021 takeover. Yet, as of mid-September 2025, they remain imprisoned without any explanation for their detention, despite having appeared in court four times. Their case is not unique: Hall revealed that many detainees in the same prison have languished for a year or more without formal charges.
Hall’s account, echoed by the Evening Standard, paints a grim picture of daily life behind bars. The prison, surrounded by barbed wire and patrolled by armed guards, offers little comfort. "There’s no beds, but there’s just some used mat on the floor, but the floor is carpeted and there is air conditioning or heater at the time, but it just fluctuates," Hall explained. The number of cellmates could range from two to seven, packed into a small room. The lack of basic amenities, combined with an atmosphere of uncertainty, took a heavy toll on all detainees—especially the elderly couple.
Barbie Reynolds, described by Hall as a previously healthy and active woman, suffered a sudden and unexplained decline. "With Barbie it’s different because she’s actually always been pretty healthy, but then all of a sudden, one day, she just couldn’t walk, and she couldn’t get up," Hall told the BBC. "And we don’t know what’s wrong with her. Her legs were just giving out so and there’s no diagnosis and it’s not a precondition. She had always walked and is a very active person." The lack of medical care and clarity about her condition has only heightened concerns.
Peter Reynolds’ situation is equally dire. Having previously undergone heart surgery and cancer treatment, he relies on daily medication, which, according to Hall, has only been partially supplied with help from the Qatari government. Still, his health is failing. "I think his conditions were not as good, and being separate from Barbie, he’s definitely getting much, much weaker, and his health is just deteriorating," Hall observed. The couple’s son, speaking to the BBC in July, reported that Peter had suffered serious convulsions, while Barbie was left numb from anemia and malnutrition.
Alarm bells have rung far beyond the family. In July, the United Nations issued a stark warning that the Reynolds could perish "in such degrading conditions" if they did not receive immediate medical care, labeling their detention "inhumane." The UN’s stance added weight to growing international pressure on both the Taliban and Western governments to resolve the situation before it is too late.
The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is supporting the Reynolds’ family and has held meetings to discuss the case. However, the British government’s ability to help is severely hampered by the closure of its embassy in Kabul following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. As a result, consular support for British nationals in Afghanistan is, in the words of a Foreign Office spokesperson, "extremely limited." The UK government continues to advise against all travel to Afghanistan, a warning that underscores just how isolated and vulnerable the couple has become.
Hall has joined the chorus of voices urging the US and UK governments to set aside differences and work together to secure the couple’s release. "Every day you do not know where you’ll be tomorrow," she said, highlighting the psychological as well as physical strain of detention. "It’s not a healthy environment and we were the only foreigners there." Her plea is simple: "Work together and do more."
The US State Department has also weighed in, condemning what it calls the Taliban’s "history of unjustly detaining foreign nationals." A spokesperson stated, "They should permanently end their practice of hostage diplomacy and release all those unjustly detained immediately." Yet despite these strong words, progress has been slow and uncertain. The Taliban’s foreign minister, in comments reported by the BBC in July, insisted that the couple are "in constant contact with their families" and that efforts are underway to secure their release, though "these steps have not yet been completed." The minister further claimed, "Their human rights are being respected. They are being given full access to treatment, contact and accommodation." But such assurances ring hollow to those who have witnessed the reality of life inside Taliban prisons.
As the days tick by, the sense of urgency grows. The Reynolds’ son has voiced his fear that his parents could die in prison if nothing changes soon. Hall, for her part, has not stopped advocating for her friends, haunted by the memory of Barbie’s sudden collapse and Peter’s steady decline. Their story has become a rallying point for those demanding greater accountability and action from Western governments and international bodies.
The Reynolds’ plight is a stark reminder of the risks facing foreigners in Afghanistan, where shifting politics and limited diplomatic channels can leave even the most well-intentioned individuals dangerously exposed. For now, their fate remains uncertain, but the calls for their release grow louder with each passing day.
