Christians in Syria have staged protests following the burning of a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town near Hama.
The arson, carried out by masked men on Christmas Eve, has raised fears for minority rights under the new Islamist-led government.
The group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), now governing Syria after toppling President Bashar al-Assad, blamed foreign fighters for the attack and claimed the culprits were arrested.
A senior HTS leader addressed angry crowds, pledging to restore the tree and symbolically held up a cross, an unusual gesture for Islamist leaders.
The incident sparked protests nationwide. In Damascus, demonstrators called for foreign fighters to leave, chanting, “Syria is free, non-Syrians should leave.”
Christian protesters carried crosses and Syrian flags, demanding security for their communities.
HTS, previously linked to al-Qaeda, faces growing scrutiny as it transitions from insurgency to governance. Despite pledges to protect minorities, concerns persist over extremism and foreign influence, leaving Syria’s diverse communities uncertain about their future.
