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The Syrian transitional government has declared Christmas a public holiday for Christians.
CHRISTMAS DECLARED A PUBLIC HOLIDAY
The Syrian transitional government, which is effectively controlled by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has declared Christmas a public holiday for Christians. The government also announced that state offices will be closed on December 25-26.
WHAT HAPPENED?
A video shared on social media showed a group of armed and masked men setting fire to a Christmas tree in the square of Al-Suqaylabiyah, where the Christian population is predominantly located. In a statement from the transitional government, it was mentioned that 'foreign fighters' were responsible for the arson, and these individuals have been detained, with the tree set to be repaired quickly. Following the incident, thousands of protesters took to the streets across the country, demanding that the new government protect religious minorities.
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