The British couple arrested in Afghanistan is facing a Taliban court ruling.
An English couple in their 70s is managing an organization that organizes programs related to education and training rights strictly restricted by gender in Afghanistan.
An Afghan government spokesman stated that the British couple, who were detained two months ago for unspecified reasons and later arrested, are being investigated for a "minor issue" and will soon face a court decision based on Islamic law. Abdul Mateen, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Interior, said, "The issues will be resolved soon." Taliban officials have publicly commented on the case of Peter and Barbie Reynolds, who were arrested after being taken from their home in the central Bamiyan province to the capital, Kabul, for the first time in over a month. The English couple, who are in their 70s, manage an organization that conducts education and training programs where access to this right is strictly limited by gender in Afghanistan. The Reynolds family reported that the couple is facing mistreatment in the Pul-e-Charkhi prison, where they are being held on undisclosed charges. In an interview with Channel 5 on Thursday, their daughter Susie Romer expressed concern that the British government has not pressured the Taliban enough to free them from this harsh captivity. "They have gone through a lot of interrogations. I believe the number of interrogations they have had to endure is 29," she said. "I think they have been brought to court three or four times and faced various charges. These were thoroughly investigated and found to be baseless accusations. Therefore, they were actually told that there was no charge against them." 'Their crime is not that serious' In a message sent to the Associated Press (AP), a Taliban official did not provide an explanation for the couple's arrest and refrained from commenting on their treatment. "The only thing I can say is that the matter was previously with the Ministry of Interior and has now been transferred to the courts," he said. "Their (crime) is not that serious. Hopefully, their issues will be resolved soon, and a Sharia decision will be made. This is a minor matter and should not be a cause for concern." Faye Hall, a U.S. citizen who was detained along with the couple, was released on March 30 as part of an agreement facilitated by Qatari negotiators. Faye Hall had been arrested for unlawful use of a drone.