Christmas tree burning sparks protests in Syria, calls for protection of religious minorities (WATCH)
By Sunita Iyer | First Published Dec 24, 2024, 3:54 PM ISTProtests have broken out across Syria following the burning of a Christmas tree in the town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama.
Protests have broken out across Syria following the burning of a Christmas tree in the town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama. The act of arson, captured in a video circulating on social media, shows masked gunmen setting fire to the tree in the town’s main square. Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town, has been a symbol of the tensions between Syria’s diverse religious communities in the aftermath of the country's ongoing conflict.
The Islamist faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which led the uprising that overthrew President Bashar al-Assad after more than 50 years of family rule, claimed responsibility for the actions of the gunmen. HTS leaders identified the perpetrators as foreign fighters, who have since been detained. They vowed to repair the Christmas tree swiftly and ensure the safety of religious minorities.
Radical Muslims lit a Christmas tree on fire in Al-Suqaylabiyah to send an unwelcoming message to the few remaining Christians in Syria. pic.twitter.com/3cgF8Gz2Oi
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte)If the “rebels” are done burning Christmas trees in the “free” Syria.. I think it’s time to do something about the daily Israeli annexation of Syrian lands pic.twitter.com/zxDkm2Lts8
— Hadi (@HadiNasrallah)Latest Videos
Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets in several cities, voicing their demands for the new Islamist leadership to protect the rights of religious and ethnic minorities. In Damascus, protesters gathered in the Bab Touma neighbourhood, waving Syrian flags and carrying crosses while chanting, “we will sacrifice our souls for our cross.” Some protesters expressed concerns about the future of Christian communities in the country, with one demonstrator, Georges, telling AFP, “If we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don't belong here anymore.”
Christians in Syria protest against burning of a Christmas tree in Damascus pic.twitter.com/k5DBjmcewX
— Roya News English (@RoyaNewsEnglish)Damascus Christians protest after attacks in Hama.
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in Christian areas of Damascus early Tuesday 24th to protest the burning of a Christmas tree near Hama in central Syria.
The protests come a little more than two weeks after the… pic.twitter.com/njb4XNc97s
Syrian Christians gathered in , displaying new crosses and flags, to protest the burning of a tree in the city by unidentified individuals. pic.twitter.com/zEUTi7aPQH
— Channel 8 English (@Channel8English)Syria’s population is diverse, consisting of various ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia, and Arab Sunnis, the latter being the majority Muslim group. With the fall of Assad’s regime, questions loom over the direction the country will take under HTS, which has distanced itself from its jihadist past but continues to push for an Islamist governance model.
HTS has made pledges to protect the rights of all Syrians, including religious and ethnic minorities, but its reputation remains marred by its earlier extremist affiliations. The group remains designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, the US, the EU, and the UK, although there are signs of potential diplomatic shifts, as evidenced by recent discussions between HTS representatives and US diplomats. In a notable development on Friday, the US dropped its $10 million bounty on the head of HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, signaling possible changes in foreign relations.
Despite these diplomatic talks, Syria faces continued instability with various factions vying for influence, including foreign fighters, ISIS remnants, and regime loyalists.
subscribe to Asianet Newsable WhatsApp channel by clicking here.