Syrian Christians Protest After Christmas Tree Burning by Suspected HTS Militants

Dec 24, 2024, 11:58 AM

Protests have erupted across Syria's capital Damascus and other cities after a Christmas tree was burned down in the Christian-majority city of Al-Suqaylabiyah near Hama. Masked gunmen, believed to be militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), set fire to the tree, sparking outrage among the Christian communities. Demonstrations have also spread to Jaramana, a large Christian-Druze city near Damascus. Protesters are demanding that the new Islamist rulers protect religious minorities and ensure their rights. A government official stated that those responsible were "not Syrian" and promised that the tree would be restored. One protester remarked, "If we are not allowed to live our faith, we have no place in Syria." The incident has heightened tensions between religious groups during a delicate transitional period following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.