Protests broke out in Syria due to 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 Suqaylabiyah, 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 arrested and that the tree would be quickly repaired.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country, calling on the new Islamist rulers to protect religious minorities.
In the Bab Touma neighborhood in Damascus, demonstrators carried a cross and Syrian flags, chanting, “Our souls are sacrificed for our cross.”
A protester named George told AFP: “If we are not allowed to live our Christian faith in our country, as we are used to, then we will not belong here anymore.”
Syria is home to many ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawite Shiites, and Sunni Arabs, who make up the majority of the Muslim population.
Just over two weeks ago, Bashar al-Assad's presidency fell to rebel forces, ending more than 50 years of Assad family rule.
It remains to be seen how Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham will govern Syria. The group has a jihadist past, from which it has distanced itself, and an Islamic present.
As fighters marched into Damascus earlier this month, its leaders spoke of building a Syria for all Syrians.
The representatives also said that the rights and freedoms of religious and ethnic minorities would be protected.
Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham remains classified as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, although there are signs that a diplomatic shift may be underway.
Friday, The US canceled a $10m (£7.9m) bounty. Headed by the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, Ahmed al-Shara, following meetings between senior diplomats and representatives of the group.
The United States continues its military presence in Syria, and said it launched an air strike on the northern city of Deir ez-Zor, killing two ISIS members.
The presence of foreign fighters, Islamic extremists such as ISIS or even regime supporters who have an interest in causing insecurity and attacking minorities to destabilize the country is the major challenge that the new Islamic leadership will face.
