Christmas for Catholics Declared a Public Holiday in Syria

The Syrian authorities have declared December 25 and 26, which coincide with the Catholic Christmas, as official holidays in several cities against the backdrop of protests by Syrian Christians. This was reported by РИА Новости.

“December 25 and 26, 2024, are declared official holidays for all employees of state institutions. Those institutions and relevant ministries whose activities are necessary will continue to operate,” the government statement published in the Al-Watan newspaper reads.

On Monday evening, peaceful protests were held in the suburbs of Damascus and in Christian neighborhoods of the capital against the oppression of the Christian population following the rise to power of the new government in Syria.

Earlier, a group of foreign mercenaries and several armed factions set fire to a Christmas tree in the town of Skalbaiya, located in the north of Homs province. Later, local authorities announced that the perpetrators had been arrested and would be punished.