The new Islamist overlords pledged to protect the rights of Syria’s religious minorities since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in early December. Pickup cars belonging to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – the new ruling regime – parked around the church, which was filled with Christians holding candles and singing hymns. 

A few hours before the church service, thousands of Christians demonstrated in Damascus, condemning the burning of a large Christmas tree in a Christian-majority town in central Syria on Monday. A video posted to social media featured hooded perpetrators dousing the tree and setting it on fire in the town of Al-Suqalabiyah near the city of Hama. Christians have expressed concerns about the future of religious freedom in the area. 

Protesters carried wooden crosses and chanted: “We demand the rights of Christians. We are your soldiers, Jesus. With blood and soul, we sacrifice for Jesus. The Syrian people are one. If we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don’t belong here any more.”

One of the demonstrators, Laila Farkouh said: “We are protesting to demand our rights and denounce… The burning of the Christmas tree, and attacks on churches.. We do not accept this. As a Christian sect, we want our rights as Christians. We want to participate in everything and have our names and voices represented.”

De facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa ensured Christians and other minority groups that Hayat Tahrir al-Shama – a former affiliate of al Qaeda – will protect their rights. Even though he had been a former leader of the Sunni Muslim Islamist group, which sees Christians as infidels, Sharaa swapped his jihadist uniform to business suits in recent weeks. He told Western officials that they would not seek revenge against the former Assad regime. 

Unidentified gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church in the city of Hama on the 18th of December. They broke into the church, smashed headstones in the cemetery and tried to destroy a cross. Several vehicles drove through Bab Touma, a predominantly Christian area of Damascus, roaring jihadist songs from their speakers.

These incidents have caused anxiety and uncertainty among Christians regarding the future. 

Source: https://premierchristian.news