Protests have broken out across Syria after the burning of a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria, raised fears over minority rights under the new Islamist leadership.
The arson attack has sparked nationwide demonstrations, with citizens demanding stronger protections for religious minorities.
Footage circulated on social media shows two masked individuals setting fire to the Christmas tree on the eve of Christmas celebrations. The incident occurred in Suqaylabiyah’s main square, leaving local Christians devastated.
A religious figure from the governing Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group addressed the gathered crowd, promising the tree would be restored by morning. In a rare gesture, the figure held up a cross in a show of solidarity.
HTS, the Islamist faction that led the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, has since detained foreign fighters it claims were responsible for the attack. The group has reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.
The arson attack has triggered widespread demonstrations. In Damascus, protesters in the Kassa neighborhood chanted against the presence of foreign fighters, with slogans such as, “Syria is free, non-Syrians should leave.”
In Bab Touma, a predominantly Christian district, demonstrators carried crosses and Syrian flags while chanting, “We will sacrifice our souls for our cross.” A protester named Georges told 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.”
The protests come just weeks after rebel forces toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime, ending more than 50 years of Assad family rule. HTS, which began as a jihadist group but has since taken a more pragmatic approach, now faces the challenge of governing a deeply divided nation.
In an effort to consolidate power, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa announced an agreement to dissolve all rebel factions and merge them under the Ministry of Defence. While the statement promises inclusivity, it remains unclear which groups will be part of the merger.
HTS has pledged to build a Syria “for all Syrians,” but its past as a jihadist group and its current designation as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, and UK complicate its path forward. Although the US recently removed a $10 million bounty on al-Sharaa, the country continues to conduct military operations in Syria, targeting extremist groups like the Islamic State (IS).
The burning of the Christmas tree highlights a broader issue: the threat posed by foreign fighters, Islamist extremists, and regime loyalists who may exploit insecurity to destabilize the country. How HTS handles such challenges will determine whether its promises of inclusivity and protection for minorities can hold in the face of growing tensions.
For many Syrians, the path to unity remains uncertain, and the protests underscore a pressing need for the new leadership to demonstrate that it can safeguard the diverse fabric of Syrian society.
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