A shocking incident in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama, has ignited widespread protests across Syria. Videos circulating on social media show a group of hoodie-wearing men setting fire to a Christmas tree in a roundabout, sparking outrage among the Christian community. The incident has led to protests in multiple regions, including Damascus, as Christian residents took to the streets to express their anger.
Protestors, some carrying crosses and Syrian national flags, shouted slogans calling for an end to the injustice faced by Christians. The demonstration in Damascus ended near the Orthodox Patriarchate headquarters, symbolizing their demand for justice and protection of their faith.
In response, the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls parts of Syria after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, quickly vowed to replace the tree by December 25. HTS representatives insisted that foreign vandals, not Syrian nationals, were responsible for the destruction. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the group responsible for the attack is Ansar al-Tawhid, an Islamist faction.
The incident has been particularly damaging for HTS, which has made efforts to present itself as a moderate force committed to protecting the rights of minority communities in Syria. Despite its ties to Al-Qaeda, HTS has promised to safeguard the religious freedoms of Christians and other minority groups in the regions it controls.