When Islamist rebels swept through Syria’s second-largest city, Christians were guaranteed that their churches and property would be protected. However, three weeks after the rebels’ successful campaign to topple the Assad regime, Christians in Lebanon, Palestinian territories, and Syria are now celebrating Christmas amidst great uncertainty and fear.
Under the rule of Bashar al-Assad, Christians were allowed to practice their holidays and rituals, but faced limitations on freedom of speech and political activity. The Islamist armed rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) is now in control of most of Syria, and while its leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has stated that his group will protect minorities and religious sects, he has yet to explicitly guarantee the safety of Christians ahead of Christmas celebrations.
Despite this, residents in Damascus report that HTS has not imposed any limitations on celebrations or prayers, but some Christians remain fearful of potential attacks from non-HTS armed elements. “Hayat Tahrir Al Sham have not announced anything on stopping our celebrations… but there are Christians who don’t want to go out to celebrate because they fear they might get attacked from rogue armed individuals,” said one resident.
In Bethlehem, where the second year in a row will see a Christmas tree absent due to the Gaza war, the city’s Mayor, Anton Salman, stated that the city has been subjected to “severe isolation” since the attack on Israel last year, leading to a frozen economy, widespread unemployment, and poverty. The city’s Christian community has scaled back their celebrations, instead focusing on prayers and religious rituals in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and across the region.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Christians in Beirut are preparing to celebrate Christmas, albeit with a sense of caution following a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel and the increased targeting of Hezbollah in the country. The Catholic Bishop of Jerusalem offered a message of hope, urging worshipers to “guard their hearts” and “never give up” despite the challenges faced.