Syrian Christians attended Christmas Eve services on Tuesday for the first time since the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in early December, in an early test of the new Islamist rulers' pledges to protect the rights of the country's religious minorities.
The service was held amid tight security due to concerns of violence against Christian sites, with several pickup cars belonging to the now-ruling Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) parked around the church.
People celebrate Christmas at the Damascus Christmas market on 24 December 2024. Source: Reuters / Mohammed al-Rifai/EPA
Hours before the service, hundreds of protesters in Damascus had gathered to denounce an incident in which a Christmas tree was burned in the northern countryside of Hama governorate in western-central Syria.
Carrying wooden crosses, they chanted: "We are your soldiers, Jesus", "With blood and soul, we sacrifice for Jesus," and "The Syrian people are one."
Syrian Christians protested in Damascus after a Christmas tree was set on fire in Hama. Source: AAP / Hussein Malla/AP
De facto ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa has told Christians and other groups that they will be safe in a Syria run by his HTS, a former affiliate of al-Qaeda.
Although he is a former leader of the Sunni Muslim Islamist group that considers Christians infidels, Sharaa has quickly traded his olive-green military shirt for business suits in recent appearances.
Christians attend mass at the Greek Orthodox Convent Saint Takla in Maaloula, around 60km north-east of Damascus, on 24 December 2024. Source: AAP / Leo Correa/AP
But many Christians remain unconvinced.
The Christmas tree burning was one of several incidents targeting Christians since the fall of the regime.
Two girls attend mass at the Mariamite Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in Damascus, on 22 December 2024. Source: AAP / Mohammed al-Rifa/EPA
In a separate incident, Reuters reporters saw several SUVs driving through Bab Touma, a predominantly Christian neighbourhood of Damascus, blasting out jihadist songs from their speakers.
