Syrian Christians demand more protection after Christmas tree burning

Dozens of Syrian Christians demonstrated in the capital, Damascus, on Tuesday, demanding greater protection for their religious minority after a Christmas tree was set on fire in the city of Hama the day before.

Many of the rebels now ruling Syria are jihadists, although Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, has abandoned his long-standing ties to al-Qaeda and has spent years portraying himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance.

It remains unclear who set fire to the Christmas tree on Monday, an act that was condemned by a representative of Tahrir al-Sham who visited the town and addressed the community.

The actor said in a video clip that was widely circulated on social media: “This act was committed by people who are not Syrians, and they will be punished beyond your expectations.”

“The Christmas tree will be fully restored by this evening.”

Watch | Syrian Christians take to the streets to demand protection:

Syrian demonstrators take to the streets after burning a Christmas tree

Christians demonstrated in the streets of Damascus on Tuesday to denounce the burning of a Christmas tree in the Syrian city of Hama. The conviction comes after an escalation of attacks on Christian websites in the country.

On Tuesday, demonstrators marched through the streets of Bab Touma, a Damascus neighborhood, chanting slogans against foreign fighters and carrying large wooden crosses.

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church said as he addressed the crowd in the church courtyard, assuring them of the rights of Christians in Syria, “We demand that Syria be for all Syrians. We want a voice in the future of our country.” .

Since Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham led a rapid offensive that ousted former President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, Syrian minority communities have been on edge, unsure of how they will be treated under the emerging rebel-led government.

Another demonstrator said: “We are here to demand a democratic and free government for one people and one nation.” “We stand united – Muslims and Christians. No to sectarianism.”