Hundreds of demonstrators have taken to the streets in Christian neighborhoods of Damascus after a Christmas tree burning heightened fears that the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad could presage crackdowns on Syria's religious minorities. A Christmas tree is set alight in Hama on Monday. Because of its roots in radical Islamist movements, HTS remains a globally designated terrorist group. Al-Sharaa has also attempted to move away from his past as a jihadist leader with links to both the Islamic State terrorist group and Al Qaeda. Protesters carry crosses during a demonstration against the burning of the Christmas tree in Hama on Tuesday.

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Persons: Bashar al, Assad, presage, Ahmed al, Sharaa, Talal Abdullah, ”, Biden, Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Reuters “, Matthew Miller, — Organizations: NBC News, Syrian Observatory, Human Rights, Syrian National Council, Al, Ministers, Islamic State, Reuters, State, Syrian Civil Defense Locations: Christian, Damascus, Al, Hama, Syria, U.K, Syrian, Al Qaeda, Dasmacus, U.S, ”, Manbij, Aleppo