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Reports of the disappearance of prominent Syrian producer and businessman Mohamed Kaband have been circulating in Syrian circles since Thursday, with conflicting accounts emerging about whether he was abducted or detained by the Interior Ministry.
Kaband, born in April 1953, is the owner and chairman of Kaband Production and Distribution Company and a former member of the Syrian People’s Assembly.
The producer was abducted by unidentified individuals impersonating members of the General Security service, who used two vehicles to take him to an unknown location, according to his son, Aiham Kaband, in a Facebook post.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening outside the company’s headquarters in Qudsaya, on the outskirts of Damascus.
“We have been in contact with General Security since the incident, but so far there is no information, despite the efforts being made by the authorities and everyone involved,” Aiham added.
Syrian Interior Ministry spokesman Nour al-Din al-Baba denied reports of Kaband's detention in Damascus on Thursday.
In a Facebook post, Baba stressed that the ministry does not arrest anyone outside the legal framework, noting that “Kaband is not in the custody of any official body affiliated with the ministry.”
According to the spokesman, preliminary investigations revealed that Kaband was abducted by a gang impersonating security personnel “with the aim of extorting money from his family and tarnishing the ministry’s image through unlawful practices.” He added that the competent security services are “seriously pursuing the case and taking the necessary measures to apprehend those involved and bring them to justice.”
Baba concluded by urging the media and the public “to exercise accuracy, avoid being swayed by rumors, and rely on official sources when following such cases.”
Actor Qasim Malhou shared a photo of Kaband on Instagram, writing, “Some say he was arrested, others say he was kidnapped, but since yesterday, there has been no news about him.”
Kaband, a distinguished producer of Syrian television dramas, is best known for producing the widely acclaimed series "Bab Al-Hara." Since its debut in 2006, the show has extended over more than nine seasons and continues to be one of the most-watched and influential dramas in the Arab world.
While the show cemented his status in the Syrian entertainment industry, Kaband has remained a controversial figure due to his pro-regime political stance. Notably, he served as a member of the Syrian People’s Assembly during President Bashar al-Assad’s tenure and maintained close ties to the government until its fall in 2024.
In addition to his media work, Kaband was the general manager and founding partner of Al-Aiham Investment Company, where he held a 95% stake, valued at over 2.8 billion Syrian pounds in 2021.
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