Assad always protected the Christians in Syria. He just won a vote by an overwhelming majority. By all accounts the only Syrians still in the fight are Syrian gov military. AlQaida and other terrorist organizations (armed and trained by the US) have become the opposition in Syria. Now, that organization calls itself ISIS and they're spreading the fight to Iraq.
I can't imagine by what stretch anyone can say Assad is the bad guy. He's a strong, heavy handed leader who does not support US and our allies oil pipeline priorities.