Masked gunmen set fire to the Christmas tree on Monday in the main square of Suqaylabiyah, a predominantly Christian town near Hama in western Syria.
This content is blocked because you have not accepted cookies and other trackers.
By clicking on “I accept”cookies and other trackers will be placed and you will be able to view the contents (more information).
By clicking on “I accept all cookies”you authorize the storage of cookies and other trackers for the storage of your data on our sites and applications for personalization and advertising targeting purposes.
You can withdraw your consent at any time by consulting our data protection policy.
Manage my choices
I accept
I accept all cookies
The video on social networks shocked the country's Christian community and awakened fears of persecution of religious minorities after the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the arrival at the head of Syria of Islamist rebels formerly members of Al-Qaeda .
This content is blocked because you have not accepted cookies and other trackers.
By clicking on “I accept”cookies and other trackers will be placed and you will be able to view the contents (more information).
By clicking on “I accept all cookies”you authorize the storage of cookies and other trackers for the storage of your data on our sites and applications for personalization and advertising targeting purposes.
You can withdraw your consent at any time by consulting our data protection policy.
Manage my choices
I accept
I accept all cookies
Demonstrations broke out in several neighborhoods of Damascus to protest against this anti-Christian act. “There is a lot of sectarianism and injustice against Christians, under the cover of isolated cases,” worries Georges. If we are not allowed to live our Christian faith as before, then we no longer have our place here. »
Arsonists will be punished
The ruling Islamists of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group immediately dissociated themselves from the destruction of the Christmas tree. A religious leader reassured the inhabitants of the Christian town by accusing foreign jihadists of being the arsonists of the tree. They are non-Syrians belonging to the Salafist group Ansar Al-Tawhid, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Several French jihadists are part of this group closely monitored by HTS. The Muslim leader promised that the perpetrators will be punished and that another tree will be put up and lit.
In search of international recognition, the new masters of Damascus are committed to rebuilding a Syria for all Syrians by protecting the rights of religious and ethnic minorities. They will be judged on paper while having to manage the presence of extremists and supporters of the old regime who have an interest in sowing chaos.
