By Abidemi Samuel
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In a historic moment, Syrian Christians gathered for Christmas Eve services on Tuesday, marking the first time since President Bashar al-Assad’s overthrow. The now-ruling Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), had pledged to protect the rights of religious minorities, including Christians.
The Christmas service was held at the Lady of Damascus Church in Syria’s capital, with a mixed congregation of young and old filling the pews. The atmosphere was filled with hymns and candlelight, but the event was also marked by tight security due to concerns of violence against Christian sites.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of protesters gathered in Damascus to denounce the burning of a Christmas tree in the northern countryside of Hama governorate. Carrying wooden crosses, they chanted slogans such as “We are your soldiers, Jesus” and “The Syrian people are one.” Protester Laila Farkouh emphasized, “We are protesting to demand our rights and denounce… The burning of the Christmas tree, and attacks on churches. We do not accept this”.
The new Syrian ruler, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has assured Christians and other groups that they will be safe under his HTS rule. However, many Christians remain skeptical, given the group’s former affiliation with al-Qaeda and its history of hostility towards Christians.
Despite these concerns, the Christmas Eve service marked a significant moment for Syrian Christians, who have faced persecution and violence in recent years. As one protester noted, “If we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith… then we don’t belong here anymore”.
The international community is closely watching the situation, with the U.S. State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, commenting on HTS’s efforts to be inclusive and protect minority rights.
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