In Damascus, hundreds of Syrian Christians demonstrate against the burning of a Christmas tree by foreign jihadists, an incident which revives the fears of minorities in a Syria seeking unity after the war…
As Syria struggles to recover after years of war, an incident involving a Christmas tree set on fire by foreign jihadists has sparked outrage within the Christian community, leading hundreds to protest in the streets of Damascus . This event highlights the persistent challenges in cohabitation between the country's different communities and the need to protect the rights of minorities.
An act of provocation which rekindles tensions
According to sources familiar with the matter, the burning of the Christmas tree in the predominantly Christian town of Souqaylabiya, near Hama, was carried out by foreign fighters belonging to the jihadist group Ansar al-Tawhid. A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social networks, shows hooded men setting fire to the tree, sparking strong emotion within the Christian community.
Faced with this act, perceived as a provocation, hundreds of Christians spontaneously took to the streets of different neighborhoods of Damascus to express their discontent and their fears. Chanting slogans such as “We demand the rights of Christians”, the demonstrators converged on the headquarters of the Orthodox patriarchate in Bab Charqi, brandishing wooden crosses and the Syrian flag of independence.
Christians worried about their future in Syria
For many demonstrators, this incident is not isolated but is part of a context of rising sectarianism and injustices against Christians since the takeover of power by a coalition led by Islamists. As Georges, one of the participants, explains: “If we are not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as was the case, then we no longer have our place here.”
Under the regime of Bashar al-Assad, overthrown a few weeks ago, Christian minorities benefited from a certain protection in this predominantly Sunni country. Today, many fear for their future and their religious freedom in the face of the rise of radical Islamist groups.
The difficult challenge of unity for the new authorities
This incident highlights the major challenge facing the new Syrian authorities, dominated by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, a former branch of Al-Qaeda which claims to have renounced jihadism. Despite a more moderate speech, HTS knows that it will be judged on its ability to protect minorities and unify a country fragmented by years of war.
Faced with the controversy, a religious leader of HTS addressed the inhabitants of Souqaylabiya, condemning the burning of the tree and promising to punish the culprits, presented as foreign fighters who did not reflect the values of the movement. He also pledged that the tree would be restored and lit quickly, a promise met with cheers from the crowd.
However, beyond the declarations, managing the presence of numerous foreign fighters of various allegiances, who came to Syria during the conflict, remains a major challenge for HTS. Will he manage to control these radical elements and impose a more pragmatic line? This is what is at stake in successfully stabilizing and unifying the country.
An incident revealing the fractures in Syrian society
Ultimately, the burning of the Christmas tree and the protests that followed are symptomatic of the deep fractures running through Syrian society after years of civil war. Between the aspirations of different religious and ethnic communities and the rise of radical Islamist currents, the path towards reconciliation and living together promises to be strewn with pitfalls.
For Christians in Syria, a minority weakened by the conflict, this episode revives fears of being marginalized or even threatened in the new balance of powers that is taking shape. Their demonstrations are a strong signal sent to the authorities so that their rights are respected.
But beyond that, it is the future of a Syria united in its diversity that is at stake. The new authorities, first and foremost HTS, will be judged on their ability to overcome community divisions, to contain the most vulnerable elements. more radical and to lay the foundations of true living together. An immense challenge after a decade of heartbreak.
