Politics Christians in Syria celebrate Christmas and the fall of Assad
Accompanied by strict security measures, Christians in Syria celebrated Christmas for the first time since the fall of ruler Bashar al-Assad. Security forces affiliated with the Islamist group Haiat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) were positioned outside churches and in Christian-majority neighborhoods in Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. In many places from the south to the north of Syria, churches had opened their doors for Christmas celebrations.
25.12.2024, 11:58
25.12.2024, 12:03
SDA
"Today, many security forces are deployed to protect churches because sabotage is feared, but things are normal," Nicola Jazgi, who attended a Christmas mass in the east of Damascus, told the German Press Agency. This year there is a double reason to celebrate, Jazgi said. "Christmas and the victory of the revolution and the fall of the tyrant. We hope that today is the day of redemption from the era of injustice of the Assad family."
After Assad's overthrow, uncertainty initially prevailed among minorities in the country, and Christians were also worried about reprisals. On Monday evening, unknown persons set fire to the Christmas tree in Al-Sukailabija in the province of Hama. One person was arrested. Hundreds of people, Christians and Muslims, demonstrated against the act on Monday evening in the capital Damascus and other cities.
