Protests broke out in Syria because of the burning of a Christmas tree near the city of Hama.
A video posted on social media showed masked gunmen setting fire to the tree on display in the main square of Suqaylabiya, a predominantly Christian town in central Syria.
The main Islamist faction that led the uprising that ousted President Bashar al-Assad said the men responsible for the arson were foreign fighters and had been detained and that the tree would be quickly repaired.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country, demanding that the new Islamist rulers protect religious minorities.
In the Bab Touma neighborhood of Damascus, protesters carried a cross and Syrian flags, chanting “we will sacrifice our souls for our cross.”
“If we are not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country as before, then we no longer belong here,” a demonstrator named Georges told the AFP news agency.
Syria is home to many ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shiites, and Arab Sunnis, the latter of whom make up the majority of the Muslim population.
Just over two weeks ago, the presidency of Bashar al-Assad fell to rebel forces, ending more than 50 years of rule by the Assad family.
How Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) will rule Syria remains to be seen. The group has a jihadist past from which it distances itself and an Islamist present.
As the fighters marched on Damascus earlier this month, its leaders spoke of building a Syria for all Syrians.
The MPs also said that the rights and freedoms of religious and ethnic minorities will be protected.
HTS remains designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, the United States, the EU and the United Kingdom, although there are signs that a diplomatic shift may be underway.
on friday, The US canceled a $10m (£7.9m) award. led by HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, following meetings between senior diplomats and representatives of the group.
The US continues its military presence in Syria. On Friday, it said it carried out an airstrike in the northern city of Deir Ezzor, killing two members of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.
The presence of foreign fighters, Islamic extremists or even regime supporters who have an interest in creating insecurity and attacking minorities to destabilize the country are the major challenges that the new Islamic leadership will face.