Protests erupt after masked men burn Christmas tree in Syria

Christians held protests across Syria after Islamists burned a Christmas tree, with demonstrators in Damascus vowing to defend themselves with arms if necessary.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in the capital’s Bab Tuma Christian quarter holding up crosses after news of the attack on the Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town. “Hold up your cross high,” they chanted. “We are your soldiers Christ: the cross and the rifle are the two options.”

Protests were held in other cities after video of the Christmas tree burning, which has been blamed on Uzbek or Chechen fighters, spread among the community. Hayaat Tahrir Al-Sham, the Islamist group that overthrew president Bashar al-Assad and now rules the country, has said that it detained the men and they will be punished.

The group’s leader, Ahmed Al-Shara, has sought to allay concerns from Syria’s minorities, as well as Western countries, that his group will oppress minorities and women. Shara, a former Al-Qaeda commander, has renounced his ties with the extremist group and now says he wants to represent all Syrians, including Christians, Druze, and Assad’s Alawi sect.

He has met Christian leaders and his supporters had put a fine point on encouraging Christmas celebrations, but many religious minorities remain sceptical.

One protest leader in Damascus said his supporters were prepared to take up arms if their rights were not respected.

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