It is a holiday horror.
Thousands of Christians protested in Damascus after a Christmas tree was burned in Al-Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria. The incident, captured on video, showed masked individuals setting the tree ablaze, sparking outrage and raising concerns about the safety of religious minorities under Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group controlling the region. Despite HTS leaders attempting to assure Christians of their protection, skepticism remains due to the group’s origins in jihadist movements like al-Qaeda.
The protests, which began shortly after the tree burning, saw demonstrators in Damascus chanting for Christian rights and carrying wooden crosses. Many demanded the freedom to practice their faith without fear, emphasizing the challenges Christians face under HTS control. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the perpetrators were foreign fighters from Ansar al-Tawhid, an affiliate of HTS. The group claimed to have arrested those involved and replaced the destroyed tree as a symbolic gesture of goodwill.
This incident follows a similar attack weeks earlier in Aleppo, where another Christmas tree in a Christian neighborhood was vandalized and later replaced by HTS. The pattern of targeting Christian symbols has raised further doubts about HTS’s commitment to protecting religious minorities, despite its efforts to present itself as an inclusive and legitimate governing force. HTS’s leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has been actively seeking international recognition by merging rebel factions under a newly formed Syrian Ministry of Defense.
The attacks have heightened tensions and brought attention to the plight of Christians in Syria, who fear further persecution. Protesters expressed their frustration with symbolic gestures, emphasizing the need for concrete action to ensure their safety and representation. Meanwhile, other factions like the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, a key U.S. ally, remain outside the fold of HTS’s efforts to unify armed groups, continuing their fight against Turkish-backed rebels near the border.
These events underscore the precarious position of religious minorities in Syria, even as HTS attempts to reshape its image. The recent attacks serve as a reminder of the deep-rooted divisions and challenges in achieving peace and coexistence in the war-torn country.