BEIRUT: Syrian activist Georges Moubayed was abducted on January 10, believed to be held by Syrian authorities and is at risk of torture, says Amnesty International.

“Pro-reform activist Georges Moubayed was abducted on 10 January 2012 and remains held at an unknown location by a group believed to be linked to the Syrian authorities,” the human rights NGO said in a statement Thursday. “On 12 January, his family received a phone-call in which he said he had been shot in the leg and the abductors demanded a ransom for his release. He is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.”

The 62-year-old jeweler, was abducted after leaving his house in the Jaramana neighborhood of Damascus, a largely Christian area that has been relatively quiet since the unrest began in March.

Moubayed had been participating in pro-reform demonstrations, which he promoted on Facebook. He had also been giving financial support to families of activists who had died during the pro-democracy protests.

Two days after his abduction, he phoned his daughter in France to say he had been captured and had been shot in the leg. The abductors then demanded from her a ransom of 30 million Syrian Lira (about $500,000) for his release.

According to Amnesty International, torture and other ill-treatment are widespread in Syria, and more than 235 people are reported to have died in custody since the demonstrations began on March 15.

The United Nations estimates that well over 5,000 people, mainly civilians, have died since the popular uprising began. The Syrian government blames the violence on armed gangs.