Syrian expatriates cast their ballots in presidential elections
- 10 years ago
Thousands of Syrian expatriates across the globe have been voting in the country’s presidential elections.
In Lebanon, with a population of 1.1 million Syrians, tens of thousands of supporters of President Bashar al-Assad marched to their country’s embassy to cast their ballots.
Polling won’t be taking place in Syria until June 3.
“We’re here to vote,” said Haji Hussein, a refugee from Damascus. “We hope to see more reforms and want to elect a president who will be a good leader for Syria.”
In the Jordanian capital, Amman, Syrians voted for one of the three candidates in the election: Hassan bin Abdullah al-Nouri, a lawmaker from Damascus; Maher Abdul-Hafiz Hajjar, a policymaker from the northern city of Aleppo and President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian opposition supporters protested outside the country’s embassy calling it “fraudulent.”
“I didn’t vote today because the result has already been decided,” explained Hussein al-Shoraiky, an opponent of President Bashar al-Assad. “The Syrian elections won’t change the current situation. A win for him will permit the butcher to cause more bloodshed.”
Voting has been taking place in Syrian embassies and consulates abroad. But several European countries including France, UK, Belgium and Germany have not permitted the election.
In Lebanon, with a population of 1.1 million Syrians, tens of thousands of supporters of President Bashar al-Assad marched to their country’s embassy to cast their ballots.
Polling won’t be taking place in Syria until June 3.
“We’re here to vote,” said Haji Hussein, a refugee from Damascus. “We hope to see more reforms and want to elect a president who will be a good leader for Syria.”
In the Jordanian capital, Amman, Syrians voted for one of the three candidates in the election: Hassan bin Abdullah al-Nouri, a lawmaker from Damascus; Maher Abdul-Hafiz Hajjar, a policymaker from the northern city of Aleppo and President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian opposition supporters protested outside the country’s embassy calling it “fraudulent.”
“I didn’t vote today because the result has already been decided,” explained Hussein al-Shoraiky, an opponent of President Bashar al-Assad. “The Syrian elections won’t change the current situation. A win for him will permit the butcher to cause more bloodshed.”
Voting has been taking place in Syrian embassies and consulates abroad. But several European countries including France, UK, Belgium and Germany have not permitted the election.