Xmas tree is BURNED DOWN ‘by Islamist thugs’ in Syria sparking protests amid fears for Christians after fall of Assad
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THIS is the shocking moment a Christmas tree was torched in a town in Syria, fuelling fears of targeted attacks on Christians after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Footage showed the tree being torched in the town square of Suqaylabiyah near Hama, just days after it was lit for Christmas.
![[A Christmas tree was torched in the in the town square of Suqaylabiyah]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fire-fury-moment-christmas-tree-959627835.jpg?strip=all&w=430)
Hundreds of Christians poured into the streets of Damascus on Monday night chanting "We demand the rights of Christians," as they marched toward the Orthodox Patriarchate headquarters. The protests come amid growing concerns over whether the new HTS-led administration, which toppled Assad earlier this month, will uphold its promises to protect religious and ethnic minorities.
![[People were seen attempting to put the fire out]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fire-fury-moment-christmas-tree-959627837.jpg?strip=all&w=369)
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the perpetrators were foreign fighters linked to the extremist group Ansar al-Tawhid, which has ties to al-Qaeda. In response, a religious leader from HTS denounced the act, insisting that the attackers were "not Syrian" and vowing swift justice.
![[Christians poured into the streets of Damascus demanding security]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/fire-fury-moment-christmas-tree-959627834.jpg?strip=all&w=611)
"The tree will be restored and lit up by tomorrow morning," the leader said, a promise that local media later confirmed was fulfilled. But the damage extends beyond the tree itself. Christian communities, already fearful of the Islamist group's rise to power, are questioning their place in a Syria that no longer has Assad at its helm.
![[Christian communities now fear for their safety under the new HTS-led administration]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-24-at-11.28.03.png?strip=all&w=824)
