What's happened
Protests erupted in Christian areas of Damascus and Hama on December 24, 2024, following a video showing masked fighters burning a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah. Demonstrators demanded rights for Christians, expressing fears over their future in Syria after the recent government overthrow.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent reported that demonstrators in Damascus chanted, "We demand the rights of Christians," reflecting their fears of losing their religious freedoms. Politico echoed this sentiment, noting that the protests were sparked by a video of the Christmas tree burning, which has intensified concerns about the treatment of Christians in the new political landscape. The South China Morning Post highlighted HTS's commitment to protecting minorities, but also pointed out the skepticism among Christians regarding their safety. The Guardian emphasized the historical context of the protests, linking them to the recent overthrow of Assad's government, which had previously been seen as a protector of minority groups.
How we got here
The protests stem from a video that circulated on social media, depicting the burning of a Christmas tree by foreign fighters from the Islamist group Ansar al-Tawhid. This incident occurred shortly after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, which had previously positioned itself as a protector of minority rights.
More on these topics
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Bashar Hafez al-Assad is a Syrian politician who has been the President of Syria since 17 July 2000. In addition, he is commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces and Regional Secretary of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party's branch in Syria.
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Damascus; Arabic: دمشق, romanized: Dimašq, Syrian Arabic: is the capital of Syria; it is also the country's largest city, following the decline in population of Aleppo due to the battle for the city.
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Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.