Speaker 1: Protests erupted in Damascos, the capital of Syria, on Tuesday,
Speaker 1: went some armed group. In now viral video, we're seen
Speaker 1: burning Christmas tree set up by some members of the
Speaker 1: minority Christian group in the Asia country which currently have
Speaker 1: new Islamic leadership after group of opposition fighters olster president
Speaker 1: Basha our Assad earlier this month. Christian Family Worldwide in
Speaker 1: the first book post on Tuesday said burning Christmas tree
Speaker 1: in Hamma, Syria by health heir of Shan terrorist group HTS.
Speaker 1: We ask for security and selty for Christian people during
Speaker 1: Christmas and New Year. It is a violation against the religion,
Speaker 1: freedom and diversity in the country. We asked for international
Speaker 1: peacekeeping forces to provide safety and security in the country.
Speaker 1: While Syrians were seen and enjoying at the Christmas market
Speaker 1: after ousted of Asad, the bonding of the Christmas tree
Speaker 1: was said to have been carried out by foreign body
Speaker 1: of Christians were seen in protest march from strings to streets,
Speaker 1: demanding the new Islamic authority to protect the religious rights
Speaker 1: of the Christians. Despite the tension generated, local media reported
Speaker 1: that Christmas Mass was held at the wealthy Greek Catholic
Speaker 1: church in capital Damascos Observas said that Christians are hopeful
Speaker 1: for future after and of the thirteen years. Several more
Speaker 1: wide church bells are ringing and worship services are being
Speaker 1: held across country. According to AFP International News Agency, hundreds
Speaker 1: of demonstrators took to the streets in Christian areas of
Speaker 1: Damasco's early Tuesday to protest the mourning of a Christmas
Speaker 1: tree near Hammer in central Syria. We demand the rights
Speaker 1: of Christians, protesters chanted as the march through the Syrian
Speaker 1: capital towards the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarchate in the
Speaker 1: Bab Sharki neighborhood. The protests come a little more than
Speaker 1: two weeks after an armed coalition led by Islamis toppled
Speaker 1: the government of Basha al Assad, who had cast himself
Speaker 1: as a protector of minorities in the Sunni majority country.
Speaker 1: A demonstrator who gave his name as Georges told AFP
Speaker 1: he was protesting in justice against Christians. If we're not
Speaker 1: allowed to leave our Christian first in our country as
Speaker 1: we used to, then we don't belong here anymore, he said.
Speaker 1: The protests erupted after a video spread on social media.
Speaker 1: Showing whoden fighters setting fire to a Christmas tree in
Speaker 1: the Christian majority town of Szuklabia near Hama. According to
Speaker 1: the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the fighters were foreign
Speaker 1: us from the Islamist group Anza al Tawid. In another
Speaker 1: video posted to social media, a religious leader from Syrian's
Speaker 1: victorious Islamist group, he Tahir al sham Hts, addressed residents,
Speaker 1: clearing those who touched the tree were not Syrian and
Speaker 1: promise they would be punished. The trail will be restored
Speaker 1: and linked off by tomorrow morning, he said. The islaest
Speaker 1: Hts movement, rotten in al Keada and supported by Turki,
Speaker 1: has promised to protect minorities since its lightning offensive topold
Speaker 1: Assad this month, following years of stallmut AFP reported a
Speaker 1: local resident in Sukelabia's city on morning posted on fascetbook
Speaker 1: and said that a foreign armed terrorist group consisted of
Speaker 1: eight members bond a Christmas tree in the city, threatening
Speaker 1: with weapons anyone who tried to put out the fire.
Speaker 1: Please deliver the video to all parties responsible for protecting
Speaker 1: Christians in Syria. It was gathered that while the current
Speaker 1: held of Syrian New government. Ahmad al Sharhai aka of
Speaker 1: Mumuhammad Julani, was meeting with delegations from Kata and Jordan.
Speaker 1: Suspected eighth husbands bond the Christmas tree in the Orthodox
Speaker 1: Sukelabia's city Yarhama. The pannel of the Christmas has since
Speaker 1: money caused a harsh reaction from the minority Syrian Christians
Speaker 1: who did not flee after the militants captured the country.
Speaker 1: Residents and protests continued all night in crystal areas and towns.
Speaker 1: People took to the streets both on foot and in cars.
Speaker 1: In Baptum, one of the historical areas of Damascos, where
Speaker 1: there is a high density of churches, Crystian militious with
Speaker 1: weapons were even seen, according to some residents who shared
Speaker 1: their observations on social media. Lady Green Day, you Renee
Speaker 1: in a more digital