Christians have been targeted by a hateful act of arson against a Christmas tree in the predominantly Christian town of Suqaylabiyah. This attack has sparked protests and fueled anxieties about the future of religious minorities under the new Islamist leadership. A video appeared on social media just days before Christmas which showed masked men setting fire to the tree in the town’s main square, sparking outrage and fear among Christians.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group that toppled President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, pointed the blame on foreign fighters for the incident and said they had been arrested. The incident has exposed deep underlying religious tensions and anxieties that have been broiled since the recent change in power. Many fear that the hardline Islamist ideology of the new leadership could threaten Syria’s religious pluralism.
Protests erupted in Christian communities across the country. Specifically the Kassa and Bab Touma neighborhoods of Damascus. At these protests, demonstrators demanded the protection of their rights and expressed anxieties about their future. Members of the crowd chanted “Syria is free, non-Syrians should leave.“ This highlights the worries some Syrians have about foreign involvement.
Other protestors carried crosses and Syrian flags, chanting “We will sacrifice our souls for our cross.” One demonstrator, named George, declared If we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don’t belong here anymore.” HTS representatives swiftly condemned the burning of the Christmas tree and promised to safeguard the rights of all religious minorities. They also pledged to repair the damaged tree.
Another video went around which showed a religious figure from HTS assuring the crowd in Suqaylabiyah that the tree would be restored, even holding up a cross in a display of solidarity. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which began as a jihadist group espousing violence to achieve its goal of establishing an Islamic state, has in recent years allegedly adopted a more balanced approach.
Syria is home to a great number of religious groups. These include Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia, and Arab Sunnis, and the new government will need to balance these complexities to foster a society where all groups feel safe and respected. Earlier this month, As fighters marched to Damascus its leaders spoke about building a Syria for all Syrians.
Despite these assurances, the group remains designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, US, EU, and UK, though there are signs of a potential diplomatic shift. Recently the US decided to scrap a $10 million bounty on the head of HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. This happened after senior diplomats met with representatives from the group.
Watch the Video Below:
Christmas tree burned by Islamists in a Christian village in Syria (Suqailabiyya).
This is the tolerance and freedom they are talking about. pic.twitter.com/Xw6AjcRg7b
— Masculinity † (@Masculinity0) December 23, 2024
This suggests a potential re-evaluation of the group’s status. However, there are still many issues. These include the presence of foreign fighters, Islamist extremists, and potential spoilers who may seek to destabilize the country by attacking minorities remains a significant challenge. The attack in Suqaylabiyah has cast a dark shadow over Christmas celebrations in Syria. Many Christians, both in Syria and internationally, feel vulnerable and uncertain about their future.
Featured image: Screen shot from embedded video.