Christian Syrians lift crosses as they rally in the Duweilaah area of Damascus on Tuesday to protest the burning of a Christmas tree —AFP DAMASCUS, Dec 24 (BBC): Protests have broken out in Syria over the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting calls for the new Islamist authorities to take steps to protect minorities.
A video posted on social media showed the tree on fire in the main square of the Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria, with masked men around.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main Islamist faction which led the uprising that toppled President Bashar al-Assad, said foreign fighters had been detained over the incident.
HTS representatives have promised to protect the rights and freedoms of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country - through Damascus and Suqaylabiyah in Hama province.
Two masked fighters appeared in a video on social media setting fire to the Christmas tree the night before Christians in Syria prepared to celebrate Christmas Eve.
Footage of the aftermath showed a religious figure from the governing HTS rebel group assuring crowds who had gathered in Suqaylabiyah that the tree would be repaired before the morning.
The man then held up a cross in a show of solidarity, something Islamist conservatives would not do.
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