By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Demonstrations have erupted in Christian-dominated neighbourhoods of the Syrian capital Damascus, following the burning of a Christmas tree on Monday in another town by unidentified men.
A video had emerged online, showing the Christmas tree being publicly set on fire in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, near the city of Hama, a development that sparked the protest.
It is not clear who was behind the act, but a video surfaced of a rebel standing next to Christian priests vowing to punish the perpetrators.
“Next morning you will see the tree completely restored,” the unidentified rebel told a protesting group next to the burnt Christmas tree.
This comes barely three weeks after President Bashar al-Assad was toppled by opposition rebels.
Christians in Syria now join their brethren in Lebanon and Palestinian territories, where Christmas is celebrated amidst fear of uncertainty.
The protesters in Damascus marched towards churches to demand protection for Christians in the country.
Following the fall of al-Assad’s brutal regime, Christians were given assurances that their churches and property would remain protected.
Under Assad, Christians were allowed to celebrate their holidays and practise their rituals. They have, however, faced tyrannical limitations on freedom of speech and political activity like other minority religions.
Islamist armed rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) is now in charge of the majority of towns in Syria.
It is led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who had established al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria before rebranding his group in 2016.
Al-Sharaa has maintained that his group will protect minorities and religious sects of Syria but has yet to call specifically for the protection of Christians in the country.
The HTS-led government said that Wednesday (25 December) and Thursday (26 December) will be a public holiday.
HTS has not imposed any limitations on celebrations or prayers this year, but Christians still fear that non-HTS rogue armed elements could attack them, CNN quoted residents as saying.
“Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have not announced anything on stopping our celebrations… but there are Christians who don’t want to go out to celebrate because they fear that they might get attacked from rogue armed individuals,” CNN quoted a protester, who gave his name simply as George, as saying.
Even in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, a Christmas tree has not been hoisted for the second consecutive year.
Since the Gaza war started last year in the wake of Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on 7 October, the Israeli-occupied city of Bethlehem has been subjected to “severe isolation”.
This is due to imposed restrictions, the suspension of tourism, the closure of its gates to pilgrims, and a frozen economy, the Mayor of Bethlehem, Anton Salman, said at a news conference on Saturday.
