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Protests have broken out in Syria over the burning of a Christmas tree, prompting calls for the new authorities to take steps to protect minorities.<\/p>\n
A video posted on social media showed the tree on fire in the main square of Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town in central Syria, with masked men around, BBC reported.<\/p>\n
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main faction that toppled President Bashar al-Assad, said foreign fighters had been detained over the incident.<\/p>\n
HTS representatives have promised to protect the rights and freedoms of religious and ethnic minorities in Syria.<\/p>\n
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country – through Damascus and Suqaylabiyah in Hama province.<\/p>\n
Two masked fighters appeared in a video on social media setting fire to the Christmas tree the night before Christians in Syria prepared to celebrate Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday more protesters took to the streets over the arson attack.<\/p>\n
Some in the Kassa neighborhood of Damascus chanted against foreign fighters in Syria.<\/p>\n
“Syria is free, non Syrians should leave,” they said, in reference to the foreign fighters HTS said were behind the attack.<\/p>\n
In the Bab Touma neighborhood of Damascus, protesters carried a cross and Syrian flags, chanting “we will sacrifice our souls for our cross”.<\/p>\n
“If we’re not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don’t belong here anymore,” a demonstrator named Georges told AFP news agency.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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