Protests have started in Syria after a Christmas tree was burned near Hama.
A video on social media showed masked gunmen setting the tree on fire in Suqaylabiyah, a town with many Christians.
The main Islamist group that led the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad said the attackers were foreign fighters and have been arrested.
Thousands of people protested across the country, in places like Damascus, Suqaylabiyah, and Hama, asking the new Islamist rulers to protect religious minorities.
The video showed two masked men burning the tree the night before Christmas Eve.
A religious leader from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group told the crowd in Suqaylabiyah that the tree would be fixed by morning. He held up a cross in solidarity.
More protests happened on Tuesday, with some in Damascus chanting against foreign fighters. Protesters carried crosses and Syrian flags, expressing their need to freely practice their Christian faith.
Syria has many ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shia, and Arab Sunnis.
Bashar al-Assad's presidency ended just over two weeks ago, after more than 50 years of Assad family rule.
HTS, which started as a jihadist group, now speaks about building a Syria for all and protecting minority rights. The group is still considered a terrorist organization by many countries, but there are signs of possible diplomatic changes.
The U.S. recently removed a $10 million bounty on HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and continues its military presence in Syria.
The new Islamic leadership in Syria faces challenges from foreign fighters, extremists, and regime supporters who may cause instability and attack minorities.
0 Comments