The Taliban say case of detained British couple will likely be determined beneath Islamic regulation | EUROtoday

The Taliban detained a British couple in Afghanistan over a small matter and the courts will rule on it primarily based on Islamic regulation, a authorities spokesperson mentioned Tuesday, including: “God willing, their problem will soon be resolved.”

It’s the primary time in additional than a month that Taliban authorities have publicly commented on the case of Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who had been arrested in early February after being taken from their house in central Bamiyan province to the capital, Kabul.

In an announcement to The Associated Press, Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani mentioned the matter was “not that big” however didn’t go into element.

“The only thing I can say is that the matter was previously with the Interior Ministry and it has now been handed over to the courts,” Mr Qani mentioned.

“Their problem (crime) is not that big. God willing, their problem will soon be resolved and a shariah (Islamic law) decision will be made. It is a small matter and should not be a cause for concern.”

The couple’s son Jonathan mentioned final week he has been “interacting” with the US authorities after a video plea to President Donald Trump for assist to get his mother and father launched.

He informed BBC News the UK Government has been “very, very supportive” of his household and he’s now in touch with US authorities businesses.

Mr Reynolds’ mother and father had been detained alongside Faye Hall, an American pal who had rented a airplane to journey with them, and a translator from the couple’s Rebuild coaching enterprise.

Their son, who’s a twin British and American citizen, mentioned Ms Hall was launched late final month.

“I think, for me, after seeing Faye Hall get out, I’m like, ‘well, who did that?’,” Mr Reynolds informed BBC News.

“As an American – I’m a British citizen and American – I’m like, ‘hey, I’m going to go to the American president, see if he can help’.”

The Associated Press stories Ms Hall’s launch was a part of a deal which Qatari negotiators helped to dealer.

open picture in gallery

Mr and Mrs Reynolds have run college coaching programmes for 18 years and remained within the nation after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

After taking energy, the Taliban launched a ban on ladies working and schooling for ladies older than 12.

Since his video enchantment, Mr Reynolds mentioned he has been “interacting” with the US authorities.

“I have been interacting with the state department and few other agencies since my video reach out this week which has been encouraging,” he mentioned.

“I mean, it’s a very, very tricky situation for any nation working with Afghanistan and the Taliban.”

Mr Reynolds’ sister Sarah Entwistle beforehand raised considerations over her father’s coronary heart situation and his deteriorating well being.

Ms Entwistle and Mr Reynolds’ mother and father have been detained for greater than two months, their son mentioned.

He mentioned: “One of the complicated parts is my parents have adamantly said they want to stay there, they want to be released from prison because they’ve done nothing wrong, but they want to be released so they can carry on doing the work they’re doing.

“This just speaks to the character and the stamina and the vision and conviction that they have of why they’re there.”

The couple, who initially met on the University of Bath, married in Kabul in 1970.