Protest Rocks Syria After Christmas Tree Burning

• Protests erupt in Syria after a Christmas tree burning sparks outrage over minority protection.
• HTS detains foreign fighters linked to the incident, pledges to safeguard religious freedoms.
• Syrians demand tolerance and unity as new leadership faces challenges of governing diverse communities.

Protests have erupted across Syria following the burning of a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiyah, sparking outrage and demands for the new Islamist authorities to take stronger measures to protect minority communities.

A video shared on social media showed masked men setting the tree ablaze in the town’s main square on the night before Christmas Eve. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that recently took power after leading the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad, announced it had detained foreign fighters responsible for the attack.

EDITOR’S PICKS 

• PDP Declares Ethiope East Federal Seat Vacant Following Ibori-Suenu’s Defection to APC
• Retired Principals Call for Recognition and Better Welfare from Government
• BREAKING: IGP Egbetokun Orders Major Shake-Up, Deploys New AIG to Lagos FCID Annex

HTS representatives have pledged to safeguard the rights and freedoms of Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities. In a symbolic act of solidarity, a religious leader from HTS addressed the crowd in Suqaylabiyah, promising to restore the damaged tree by morning. The leader held up a cross—a gesture rarely seen among Islamist factions—to reassure the community of their commitment to coexistence.

The incident has sparked nationwide protests, with demonstrators in Damascus, Suqaylabiyah, and other areas denouncing the arson attack and the presence of foreign fighters. In Damascus’s Kassa neighbourhood, protesters chanted, “Syria is free, non-Syrians should leave,” calling for the removal of foreign fighters from Syrian soil. In the Bab Touma neighbourhood, demonstrators marched with crosses and Syrian flags, declaring, “We will sacrifice our souls for our cross.”

One protester, Georges, expressed frustration to AFP, 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.”

Syria’s diverse population includes Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia, and Arab Sunnis, the latter forming the majority of the Muslim population. The recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has left the country grappling with the challenges of governance under HTS, which is transitioning from its jihadist origins to a more pragmatic stance aimed at building a Syria for all.

While HTS remains designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, and UK, recent developments suggest a potential shift in international diplomacy. The US recently removed a $10 million bounty on HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa following discussions between HTS representatives and senior diplomats.

FURTHER READING

• Ensure Available Of Naira Notes Nationwide -Shettima Tasks Banks
• Alleged Mass Killings: NHRC Seeks Justice For Victims
• Federal Government Allocates N700bn for Free Meter Distribution

Despite these moves, Syria faces significant challenges, including the presence of foreign fighters, extremist groups, and regime loyalists intent on destabilizing the country. On Friday, the US conducted an airstrike in Deir Ezzor, targeting and killing two members of the Islamic State (IS) group, highlighting the ongoing threat of jihadist violence in the region.

As HTS navigates its new role as the governing authority, its ability to ensure security, protect minorities, and foster national unity will be a critical test for the future of a post-Assad Syria.

Click here to watch our video of the week:

---

Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:

Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.

Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.

Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611