Hundreds protest in Damascus following burning of Christmas tree
2 Min Read
The protests were sparked by a viral video circulating on social media showing hooded fighters setting fire to a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah.
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Christian worshippers stage a sit-in inside the Mariamite Church in Damascus early on December 24, 2024 (AFP)
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered early Tuesday in several neighborhoods of Damascus to protest the burning of a Christmas tree in the town of Suqaylabiyah, near Hama in central Syria, AFP reported.
"We demand the rights of Christians," protesters chanted as they marched toward the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarchate in the Bab Sharqi district of the Syrian capital.
The demonstrations took place just over two weeks after a coalition of armed factions, led by the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, overthrew the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
One protester, who identified himself as Georges, expressed his frustration, stating that he was protesting "injustice against Christians."
"If we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don't belong here anymore," he stressed.
The protests were sparked by a viral video circulating on social media showing hooded fighters setting fire to a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah.
In a separate video shared online, a religious leader from the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham group, addressed residents, claiming that the individuals responsible for burning the tree were not Syrian and promising they would face consequences.
"The tree will be restored and lit up by tomorrow morning", he said.
Read more: Syrian Christians urged to limit Christmas celebrations amid tensions
