Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Damascus to protest against the burning of a Christmas tree near Hama, highlighting the growing concerns about religious freedom and minority rights in post-Assad Syria.
Protesters, including Christians, chanted slogans demanding their rights, with some expressing fear that their ability to practice their faith was under threat. A demonstrator said he protested because “we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith as we used to.”
The protests come after an Islamist-led coalition toppled the government, and concerns have grown about minority protection. A video showing foreign fighters setting fire to a Christmas tree in a predominantly Christian area sparked widespread outrage on social media. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the perpetrators were from the Ansar al-Tawhid group.
Turkey’s new leaders face a daunting task of maintaining stability amid the power vacuum, with nearly 3 million refugees still living in Turkey. More than 25,000 Syrians have returned home since Assad was ousted, according to Turkish officials.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/24/protest-syrian-capital-christmas-tree-burned