Protests Erupt Across Syria Following Burning Of Christmas Tree.
Widespread protests have erupted in Syria after a Christmas tree was set ablaze in Suqaylabiyah, a predominantly Christian town in central Syria. The incident, captured on video and shared widely on social media, shows masked individuals pouring an unidentified liquid on the tree in the town’s main square before it was engulfed in flames on Christmas Eve.
The arson attack has caused outrage among Syria’s Christian community, who viewed it as a direct affront to their faith and traditions. Although the perpetrators’ intent remains unclear, with speculation about whether they aimed to extinguish or fuel the flames, the incident has deepened existing tensions.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist faction currently governing the region after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, has reportedly detained foreign fighters linked to the attack. The group’s representatives assured the public of their commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms of religious and ethnic minorities, seeking to ease tensions.
In an unprecedented move, a religious leader associated with HTS addressed the gathering at the site of the burned tree. Holding a cross, he pledged to have the tree restored in time for Christmas morning, a gesture that surprised many given the conservative context of the region.
Despite this reassurance, the incident has sparked broader protests, spreading to Christian-majority neighbourhoods in Damascus, including Kassa and Bab Touma. Demonstrators carried crosses and Syrian flags, chanting slogans such as “We will sacrifice our souls for our cross” and “Syria is free, non-Syrians should leave.”
One protester, Georges, expressed his frustration, stating, “If we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don’t belong here anymore.”
The arson attack has reignited religious and ethnic tensions in Syria, a nation already fractured by years of conflict. As calls for justice and unity grow louder, the incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance required to maintain peace and coexistence in the region.
