Syria’s Christmas tree arson crisis ignites protests amid assurances of minority protections

Following a Christmas tree burning assault, protests broke out in Syria, sparking worries about the security of minorities under Islamist rule.

The burning of a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, a town in central Syria with a Christian majority, sparked protests around the country due to concerns about the rights of minorities under the new Islamist government.

Nationwide protests have been triggered by the arson incident, with many calling for more robust safeguards for religious minorities.

On the eve of Christmas festivities, two masked people are seen in footage that has gone viral on social media burning the Christmas tree. 

Christians in Suqaylabiyah were horrified by the tragedy, which took place in the main plaza.

Speaking to the assembled audience, a religious leader from the ruling Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group assured them that the tree would be restored by morning. The person displayed unity by raising a cross in an unusual gesture.

Since then, HTS, the Islamist group that spearheaded the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad, has arrested foreign combatants it says were behind the assault. The organization has reaffirmed its dedication to protecting Syria’s religious and ethnic minority’ rights.

Widespread protests have been sparked by the fire incident. Protesters in Damascus’ Kassa area chanted anti-foreign fighter chants, including “Syria is free, non-Syrians should leave.”

In the mostly Christian neighborhood of Bab Touma, protesters brandished Syrian flags and crosses as they chanted, “We will sacrifice our souls for our cross.” “We don’t belong here anymore if we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to,” a protester called Georges told AFP.

Only a few weeks have passed since Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship was overthrown by opposition forces, bringing an end to the Assad family’s more than 50-year dominance. HTS, which started out as a terrorist organization but has subsequently adopted a more practical stance, must now manage a sharply divided country.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the commander of HTS, declared a deal to disband all rebel groups and combine them under the Ministry of Defense in an attempt to consolidate authority. Although inclusion is promised in the statement, it is yet unknown which groups will be included in the merger.

Although HTS has promised to create a Syria “for all Syrians,” its future is complicated by its history as a jihadist organization and its present classification as a terrorist organization by the US, UK, EU, and UN. The United States continues to carry out military operations in Syria, targeting terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State (IS), despite the recent removal of a $10 million reward on al-Sharaa.

The Christmas tree’s burning serves as a reminder of a larger problem: the danger posed by Islamist extremists, foreign fighters, and regime supporters who might use instability to their advantage. HTS’s ability to uphold its pledges of inclusion and minority protection in the face of escalating tensions will depend on how it responds to these difficulties.

The protests highlight the urgent necessity for the new leadership to show that it can protect the unique fabric of Syrian society, since the route to unification is still unclear for many Syrians.