DAMASCUS – Syrian Christians gathered for Christmas Eve services on Dec. 24 for the first time since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad earlier this month, marking an early test of the new Islamist rulers’ promises to safeguard the rights of religious minorities.
At the Lady of Damascus Church in the capital, worshippers of all ages lit candles and sang hymns amid heightened security, with pick-up trucks belonging to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—the Islamist group now ruling Syria—positioned around the church.
The celebrations were marred by protests earlier in the day in response to the burning of a Christmas tree in the Hama governorate. Hundreds of protesters carried wooden crosses and chanted slogans like, “We are your soldiers, Jesus,” and “The Syrian people are one,” as they denounced attacks targeting Christian symbols.
“We are protesting to demand our rights and condemn attacks on our churches and traditions. We will not accept this,” said Laila Farkouh, one of the protesters.
HTS de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda affiliate figure, has pledged to protect Syria’s Christian and other minority populations. While donning a new image in business suits, Sharaa assured visiting Western officials that his administration would refrain from persecuting religious minorities or exacting revenge against Assad’s Alawite-dominated regime.
However, skepticism remains strong among Christian communities, given recent incidents of targeted violence. On Dec. 18, gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in Hama, damaging property and desecrating graves, while jihadist songs blared from vehicles in Damascus’ predominantly Christian Bab Touma neighborhood days before Christmas.
While the new government insists it will uphold religious freedom, the transition remains fraught, with fears of further targeting casting a shadow over the festive season.