Protests in Syria against Christmas tree burning...
Protests in syria against christmas tree burning...A christmas tree was set on fire in syria, sparking protests and demands that the country's new Islamist government take action to safeguard minorities. The tree was burning in the central Syrian town of Suqaylabiyah, which has a Christian majority, according to a social media video.The primary Islamist group that spearheaded the rebellion that overthrew President Bashar al-Assad, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), said that foreign militants had been arrested in connection with the incident. Representatives of HTS have pledged to defend the liberties and rights of Syria's religious and ethnic minorities.The night before Syrian Christians got ready for christmas Eve, footage on social media seemed to show masked persons spraying the tree with an unknown substance. It was unclear if they were attempting to assist the fire spread or put it out. Following the incident, footage showed a religious leader from the ruling HTS rebel group promising the masses in Suqaylabiyah that the tree will be fixed by dawn. Then, in a gesture of solidarity that is unusual for Islamist conservatives, the man raised a cross.In response to the arson attack, more demonstrators took to the streets on Tuesday, including in several areas of the capital, Damascus. Some chanted against foreign fighters in syria in the Kassa neighborhood of Damascus. They said, "Syria is free, non Syrians should leave," referring to the foreign militants that HTS claimed were responsible for the assault. "We will sacrifice our souls for our cross" was the slogan of demonstrators holding Syrian flags and a crucifix in the Bab Touma neighborhood of Damascus. A protester named Georges told the AFP news agency, "We don't belong here anymore if we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to."