BEIRUT — Prominent Syrian-born Palestinian actor Mohammed Rafeh, who was believed to be a supporter of President Bashar Assad's regime, was kidnapped and then killed by antigovernment gunmen, activists and his family said Sunday. He was 30.
Ahmad Rafeh, Mohammed's father and also a well-known actor, said the family received Mohammed's body Sunday. ''My son was killed in cold blood,'' the elder Rafeh said by telephone from Damascus.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Mr. Rafeh was kidnapped Friday night in the tense Damascus neighborhood of Barzeh, which has been hit by fighting between rebels and government troops. The Observatory said he was killed for apparently giving information to the regime about rebels and antigovernment protesters.
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Mr. Rafeh's death comes after a campaign began on social media calling for actors who support Syrian President Bashar Assad to be punished.
Mr. Rafeh had played roles in several Syrian TV series but became famous throughout the Arab world five years ago for his role in the Bab al-Hara program that depicted life in Damascus in the 1930s under French colonial rule. Mr. Rafeh was not married. The family said a funeral is planned for Monday.