A British couple in their 70s, Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife, Barbie, 75, have been arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan for conducting parenting education programs for mothers and children. The couple, who have worked on educational projects in Afghanistan for 18 years, were detained on February 1 while returning to their home in Bamiyan province.

In spite of the Taliban’s ban on women’s education and work, the Reynolds’ project had been said to have been sanctioned by local officials. But after their detention, they were being kept by the interior ministry, where they were in touch with their children through text messages for three days before contact suddenly stopped.

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Their residence in Nayak was then searched, and their staff was interrogated on charges of religious proselytizing, which they denied. The couple’s daughter, Sarah Entwistle, was also very concerned, noting that her frail old father needs heart medication after a mini-stroke. She criticized their arrest, saying, “They were just trying to help the country they loved. The idea they are being held because they were teaching mothers with children is outrageous.”

Sarah and her three brothers have written an open letter to the leadership of the Taliban, asking for the release of their parents. They pointed out the couple’s long-standing commitment to Afghanistan, citing that Barbie was the first woman to be awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Taliban.

The Reynolds were managing projects at five Kabul schools in addition to their efforts at Bamiyan. Their daughter asserts that the Taliban previously complemented their work and even hinted at extending the programs nationwide. She maintains her parents followed closely to the guidelines, even amid changing policies.

The family is still hopelessly searching for answers, calling on the Taliban to free the couple and permit them to resume their work educating in the nation they have known as home for decades.