The abduction of Syrian producer Mohamed Qabnoud sparks controversy and the Ministry of Interior denies he is detained

Syrian artist Qasem Malhou confirmed on Thursday evening the news of the abduction of producer Mohamed Qabnoud from his office in Damascus, following vague reports about his disappearance.

Malhou explained that the incident occurred on Wednesday, September 17, around five in the evening, when unknown vehicles arrived at the headquarters of "Qabnoud Artistic Production" and took the producer to an unknown location.

He added that the identity of the individuals involved is unknown, and it is unclear whether the incident was an arrest or an abduction, urging the authorities to act quickly.

In an official statement, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, Nour al-Din al-Baba, confirmed that the information circulating on social media about Qabnoud's detention is misleading. He said: "The Ministry of Interior does not detain anyone outside the legal framework, and Mr. Qabnoud is not detained by any official entity affiliated with the ministry."

Initial investigations revealed that Qabnoud was subjected to an abduction carried out by a gang impersonating security personnel, with the aim of financially extorting his family and tarnishing the image of the ministry, indicating that the security authorities are following up on the case and taking the necessary measures to apprehend those involved and bring them to justice.

Mohamed Qabnoud is one of the most prominent producers in Syria, having produced parts of the series "Bab Al-Hara," in addition to other works such as: "Zaman Al-Barghout," "Intensive Care," "Ater Al-Sham," "Shari' Chicago," and "Touq Al-Banat."

He also served as a member of the Syrian People's Assembly from 2016 until the fall of the Assad regime, and his name has been politically associated with supporting the regime, which has sparked widespread controversy in the past.

Qabnoud hails from Bab Al-Nayrab in Aleppo Governorate, and he is the owner and chairman of the board of directors of "Qabnoud" for artistic production and distribution.