Syrian Christians attend first Christmas Eve service since al-Assad’s fall

This year is different, there’s happiness, victory and a new birth for Syria and a new birth for Christ,

said attendee Houssam Saadeh

We are protesting to demand our rights and denounce... The burning of the Christmas tree, and attacks on churches.. We do not accept this."

Protester Laila Farkouh said

Syria is free. Non-Syrians should leave".

They are reported to have cried

We take pride in our culture, our religion and our Islam. Being part of the Islamic environment does not mean the exclusion of other sects. On the contrary, it is our duty to protect them."

He said

Matthew Miller (spokesperson)state Department spokesman

We’re watching what they do now,

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday last week

If we're not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we used to, then we don't belong here anymore,

said a demonstrator named Georges told Sky News

The tree will be restored and lit up by tomorrow morning,

the leader said, a promise that local media later confirmed was fulfilled

Nizar Zakkamember

We have data that Austin is alive till January 2024, but the president of the U.S. said in August that he is alive, and we are sure that he is alive today,

Hostage Aid Worldwide's Nizar Zakka said

Ali Yerlikayainterior Minister

The number of people returning to Syria in the last 15 days has exceeded 25,000,

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya told the Turkeys Anadolu news agency

We demand the rights of Christians,

protesters chanted as they marched through the Syrian capital towards the headquarters of the Orthodox patriarchate in the Bab Sharqi neighbourhood

I think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60 per cent.

Speaking to the BBC, he added

We are your soldiers, Jesus, ... With blood and soul, we sacrifice for Jesus," ... The Syrian people are one."

Carrying wooden crosses, they chanted

Matthew Miller (spokesperson)state Department spokesman

They want to be inclusive in dealing with other groups inside Syria, making clear that they respect women and minorities as they establish interim governing authorities — and making clear that Syria won’t be used as a base for terrorist groups,

Miller said

That night, and under the rain, they set up a new tree in the same spot, decorated it, and arrested the attackers,

he said,

The community is watching to see if the groups currently in power are genuinely committed to establishing a civil society that offers equal opportunities for all,

Bahhi said

But how truthful and serious he is? We don’t know,

said Bahhi

Whenever I hear a sound at night, I jump. Fear is deeply ingrained in us,

she said, sitting near a portrait of her husband wrapped in the Syrian flag and clutching a photograph of her son

Maybe God will answer my prayers and bring back my son."

She rose from her seat to light a candle and softly whispered

Your day is coming, Oh worshippers of the cross."

And a photo has circulated on social media showing an armoured vehicle moving through a Christian quarter with a message written on the front window

The ideology does not change in an hour,

her daughter added