Credit: @GrecoLevantines/X
Thousands of Syrians took to the streets in protest after a Christmas tree was set alight near the city of Hama.
A video circulating online shows hooded men setting fire to a tree in the main square of the central Christian town of al-Suqaylabiyah.
Officials from Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS), the rebel group that now controls Syria, said the act was carried out by âforeign fightersâ, and promised harsh punishment as well as restoration of the tree.
HTS is a former al-Qaeda affiliate, although it has long distanced itself from them. Since deposing Bashar al-Assad in a lighting offensive earlier this month, they have promised to respect minorities and build a Syria for all Syrians.
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The Hama burning follows an incident in Aleppo, where a tree was destroyed in a Christian neighbourhood but later replaced by HTS.
Demonstrators have demanded HTS protect religious minorities in Christian areas of Hama, Damascus and other regions.
Christians have aired concerns about Syria under HTS, with people in Damascus telling The Telegraph, Christmas decorations and celebrations have been toned down this year.
HTS remains designated as a terrorist organisation by the UK, US, and others. However, the US has abandoned a ÂŁ7.9 million bounty on the head of its leader Mohammed al-Jolani.
Syria is a melting pot of ethnic and religious groups, with Christians making up around 2 per cent of the population and the majority of people Sunni Muslims.
Christians made up about 10 per cent of the population before Syriaâs 13-year civil war, but many fled to escape widespread persecution by Islamic terrorists.
Public protests are likely to alarm ruling leaders. Mass protests challenged Assad before he ordered a brutal crackdown that led to civil war.
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