{"id":39542,"date":"2025-12-24T10:20:47","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T10:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/?p=39542"},"modified":"2025-12-24T10:38:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T10:38:31","slug":"christmas-in-damascus-bright-lights-and-heightened-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/24\/christmas-in-damascus-bright-lights-and-heightened-security\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas in Damascus: Bright Lights and Heightened Security"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Festive Christmas lights brighten the streets of Damascus\u2019s Old City, yet government forces maintain strict patrols as security concerns weigh heavily on Syria\u2019s Christian community.<\/p>

Many recall the tragic June attack on Saint Elias Church in the capital, where a shooting and suicide bombing killed 25 people and injured dozens more. “People are going home early and feel scared,” said 26-year-old university student Tala Shamoun, who was visiting a Christmas market with friends and family.<\/p>

Damascus has experienced various crimes, including robberies and kidnappings, but Shamoun described the church attack as “the greatest tragedy.” Authorities attributed the assault to the Daesh group, though a smaller militant organization also claimed responsibility.<\/p>

The Islamist groups that overthrew Bashar Al Assad last year have pledged to protect coexistence among all religious communities in Syria, promising inclusive participation in the country\u2019s transition.<\/p>

However, sectarian violence has continued: earlier this year, Syria\u2019s Alawite regions experienced massacres, and the Druze-majority areas in the south were struck by intense clashes.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Security plan<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Interior ministry personnel have been stopping pedestrians and checking motorbikes throughout the Old City.<\/p>

At a main entrance to the district, an armed government security officer held a walkie-talkie and a map showing the locations of deployed forces.\u201cWe\u2019ve set up a security plan covering multiple districts and areas across the capital to ensure everyone\u2019s safety,\u201d he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.<\/p>

\u201cThe state\u2019s responsibility is to protect all citizens, both Christian and Muslim, and today we are fulfilling that duty by safeguarding churches and ensuring festive celebrations are secure,\u201d he added.<\/p>

Former ruler Bashar Al Assad, an Alawite himself, had long portrayed himself as a guardian of minority groups, who faced attacks during the Syrian conflict, some claimed by jihadist factions.Syria\u2019s Christian population is estimated to have fallen from around one million in 2011, at the start of the war, to roughly 300,000 today, with many fleeing abroad.<\/p>

In the Old City, where a small but active Christian community lives alongside historic churches, red ornaments hang from trees, shopkeepers have decorated their stores, and street vendors sell warm roasted chestnuts.Local \u201cneighborhood committees\u201d are also helping bolster security, with dozens of Christians coordinating with government forces to protect churches.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Syria deserves joy<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Fuad Farhat, 55, from the Bab Touma neighborhood, was overseeing the placement of several unarmed Christian volunteers dressed in black, equipped with walkie-talkies, stationed outside the churches.<\/p>

While some worry that large Christmas crowds could increase security risks, Farhat said the extra precautions make people \u201cfeel safer and more confident about going out.\u201d<\/p>

\u201cWe are taking active steps to protect those celebrating in Christian areas and prevent any incidents, working closely with security forces,\u201d he added.<\/p>

University student Loris Aasaf, 20, was enjoying the festive mood with friends.<\/p>

\u201cSyria deserves happiness, and we need moments of joy and hope for a better future,\u201d she said.\u201cAll communities used to join in our celebrations, and we hope this continues in the coming years to help rebuild Syria,\u201d she added.<\/p>

Near Saint Elias Church, the site of June\u2019s deadly attack, government forces blocked entrances and exits with metal barriers, and heavily armed personnel screened all visitors.Church attendees illuminated a tree adorned with stars featuring the names of those killed in June. \u201cThis Christmas is special because of the pain and grief we have endured,\u201d said 44-year-old housewife Abeer Hanna.<\/p>

\u201cThe security measures are essential because fear is still present,\u201d she added.<\/p>

Nearby, Hanaa Masoud lit a candle in memory of her husband, Boutros Bashara, and other relatives who lost their lives in the attack.\u201cIf we go to church and something happens, where can we feel safe?\u201d she asked, holding back tears.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Damascus sparkles with festive Christmas lights this season, while authorities enforce tight security measures to ensure safety. Streets glow with holiday cheer, blending celebration with vigilance across the historic city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"post_template":[],"top_category":[],"class_list":["post-39542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39542"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39542\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39548,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39542\/revisions\/39548"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39542"},{"taxonomy":"post_template","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_template?post=39542"},{"taxonomy":"top_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/top_category?post=39542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}