Syria’s Christians prepared on Tuesday to celebrate their first Christmas since the overthrow of Bashar Assad amid fear and concern, particularly after armed men burnt a Christmas tree.
Demonstrators, including Christians and Muslims, took to the streets in Damascus and other locations in Syria after a Christmas tree was set on fire in the city of al-Suqaylabiyah, in the countryside of the west of Hama.
In Damascus, Father Andrew Bahi expressed concern about how Christians will be treated in Syria after Assad's ouster.
“We have the right to be afraid. Over the years, the [Christian-dominated] neighborhoods of eastern Damascus have been hit by hundreds of shells and we endured in our homes, but now the atmosphere remains ambiguous. There is a conflict and contradiction between words and actions,” Bahi told dpa.
“The statements by the new leadership in Damascus are reassuring and they stressed respect for all sects and religions, but some actions and slogans are a source of concern for us, and the coming days will test that,” added Bahi.
Meanwhile, Tony Matanius, a Christian man from Bab Touma, in eastern Damascus, who works at a grocery store, said that the opposition who seized the capital “did not do anything that would offend or harm us, but everyone is cautious.”
“We did not decorate the shops and homes as we are used to, though no one stopped us, but things we have heard and seen published on some social media sites are scaring us,” he added.
Matanius is optimistic about change after enduring conflict in the country for 13 years. He said he will continue monitoring statements by the new leadership and hope "They are translated into actions, not just words.”
Rana Medani, a civil employee, believes that the injustices Syrians faced during Assad's rule harmed people of all faiths.
“Personally, I am optimistic about the new leadership. I do not care if the ruler is Muslim or Christian. I care that it is someone who wants the best for the people and serves the people,” she added.
Medani said most of her colleagues are opposed to Bashar Assad's regime, which has humiliated and starved people.
“They oppose the corruption and patronage of the former regime officials,” she said.
On Tuesday, demonstrators took to the streets in Damascus and other regions in Syria after the arson of a Christmas tree in the city of al-Suqaylabiyah.
People chanted slogans against sectarian strife that seeks to destabilize society, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
“Everyone chanted demanding the protection of Christians in Syria,” said Samer Elias, who joined the protests in Damascus on Monday evening.
A security source in Hama province, where al-Suqaylabiyah is located, told dpa that two people burnt the tree and one of them was arrested.
