A little more than two weeks after the fall of the regime, Christians in Syria are preparing to celebrate Christmas in a special atmosphere. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group took the reins of the country, but its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, said he would guarantee the rights of every community. However, on Tuesday, December 24, several demonstrations took place in Christian neighborhoods of Damascus to protest the burning of a Christmas tree near Hama, in central Syria.
1 minute
The images set social media ablaze. On a roundabout in Souqaylabiya, a predominantly Orthodox Christian town near Hama, a large Christmas tree is set on fire by hooded fighters. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH), these men are foreigners affiliated with the jihadist group Ansar al-Tawhid.
A few hours later, hundreds of Christians took to the streets of Damascus. “We will sacrifice our souls for our cross“, proclaim the demonstrators, worried about seeing their religious freedom threatened, barely two weeks after the seizure of power by a coalition led by the Islamists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
HTC leaders reacted quickly. A religious leader from the Islamist group went to Souqaylabiya to address residents and promise them that the culprits would be punished and that the tree would be reinstalled. In search of respectability, the new power wants to prove that it will not allow any slippage.
Nothing has changed. At first, we were afraid that they would force our daughters to wear the hijab. But no, we each continue to practice our religion. I’m going to go to Sadnayah church.
In Syria, the Christian quarter of Damascus celebrates Christmas with caution
Also listenChristmas in Syria