Protests erupt in Damascus after Christmas tree set ablaze

Residents of several Damascus neighborhoods, home to a significant Christian population, protested following a video that surfaced online showing a group of people setting fire to a Christmas tree near the town of Hama in central Syria.

The protests were sparked by widespread outrage over the incident, with demonstrators chanting slogans demanding the protection of Christians' rights in the country, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

The video, which quickly circulated on social media, showed the desecration of the Christmas symbol, prompting a wave of anger from both the Christian community and their supporters.

The rise to power of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, a terrorist organization banned in Russia, has caused growing concern among religious minorities in Syria, particularly Christians, who fear further marginalization under the new leadership. However, HTS officials have reassured the public that they will respect all religious groups within Syria.

HTS responded to the incident, claiming that those responsible for burning the Christmas tree were "not Syrians" and promised swift action to punish the perpetrators. Despite these reassurances, the incident has intensified tensions in a country already grappling with years of civil war and ongoing religious and ethnic divisions.

For many Christians in Syria and around the world, the Christmas holiday, celebrated on December 25, remains a deeply important tradition, and the burning of the tree has further exacerbated concerns about religious freedom in the country.

The incident occurred three weeks after opposition rebels led a successful campaign to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. Syria’s Christian community, now joined by those in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, is celebrating Christmas amidst growing uncertainty and fear across the region.

In the Syrian capital, protesters marched toward churches, demanding greater protection for Christians in the country. George, a 24-year-old Catholic resident of Damascus who asked to remain anonymous, spoke to CNN about the situation.

As Islamist rebels advanced through Syria’s second-largest city in an operation that would ultimately lead to the fall of Assad’s regime, Christians were reassured that their churches and properties would be safeguarded. Under Assad’s rule, Christians were allowed to celebrate their holidays and practice their faith. However, like all Syrians, they lived under oppressive restrictions on freedom of speech and political activity.

The Islamist armed rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Ahmad al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani), now controls much of Syria. Al-Sharaa, who initially founded al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, rebranded his group in 2016.

Al-Sharaa has claimed that his group will protect Syria's minority and religious communities, but he has yet to make specific statements about safeguarding Christians ahead of the Christmas celebrations. The HTS-led government has announced that December 25-26, will be public holidays.

By Vafa Guliyeva