Hundreds of Christians gathered in Damascus on Tuesday to protest the burning of a Christmas tree in the al-Suqaylabiyah district in Hama's northern countryside. Carrying wooden crosses, protesters chanted slogans in Arabic, including "We are your soldiers, Jesus" and "With blood and soul, we sacrifice for Jesus."
"We are here demonstrating to call for our rights against the aggression that took place in al-Suqaylabiyah — the burning of the Christmas tree, the attacks on churches, and in Maaloula," said Laila Farkouh, a demonstrator. "We do not accept this," she added.
The protest comes amid rising concerns over attacks on Christian sites. On Dec. 18, unidentified gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church in the city of Hama, entering the compound and attempting to destroy a cross, and smashing headstones in a cemetery, the church said in a statement.
Syrian church leaders are advising Christians to scale back Christmas celebrations this year, despite assurances from the Islamists who have just taken power that they are free to practice their religion. The self-imposed constraints highlight one of the main challenges for Syria's new Islamist rulers: establishing mutual trust among a myriad of minorities, all scarred by decades of brutal dictatorship and 13 years of pitiless civil war.
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