My brother voted 'no' in the Syrian embassy in Moscow during 1980s Hafez 'election'. His passport was revoked & never able to go back since — اغين الزعبي (@agh_yan) May 28, 2014

As Syrians abroad have been gathering to vote in the presidential elections at Syrian embassies around the world, Anne Barnard tweeted from the scene in Beirut. These tweets were very interesting, and I am providing them below, along with a few from others. An article on the voting in Lebanon was also published by Anne today, here. These elections began with bids submitted by more than 20 candidates, all but three of which were disqualified by Syria’s supreme court. Not long after, one of the surviving candidates, Hassan al-Nuri, stated that “There are no losers in these elections because we are all winners; as of now I consider myself a winner and the presidential chair is not the goal.” A Press TV interview with candidate Hassan al-Nuri is available here.

Oliver Holmes: Tens of thousands of Syrians abroad vote in early poll

AP: Assad’s supporters abroad vote in Syrian election

VICE: Polls Open in Syrian Elections, but Real Choices Are Hard to Find

Shweta Desai: In Delhi’s Vasant Vihar, 750 Syrians line up to vote in an election denounced by critics as a farce

The National: Syrian elections put Tehran and Moscow in a fix

Main road to Baabda from Beirut clogged as some of 1M Syrians in Leb head toembassy for presidential elections. Refugees/expats vote today. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Minibus w/Assad pic on rear window, young men hanging out door w/ Syria flag. Women in back look more glum. Some cars play patriotic songs. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Lebanese colleague remarks, Syrians voting here for president & we Lebanese can't manage to agree on a president! — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Syrian colleague on other hand jokes that Lebanese commuters late for work will be pissed at this Syrian "occupation" of the highway. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

One car w/Hezbollah flag and poster praising Assad: "you are the lion of the Arabs and the others are half men." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

One carload waves Syria govt flag but says don't take our photo: "we don't want to be famous." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Another car: skinny middle aged driver with wristband w/heart shaped Syrian flag and cap in English: "I (heart) Bashar." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

At least five breakdowns/accidents on way to Syria voting. Scores of people walking uphill to Baabda after Lebanese army checkpoint. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Some anti-government Syria activists say embassy people visited camps to tell ppl you must vote if you ever want to go back home. Took names — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

But embassy official says it was just registration process. #pt Embassy crowded recently w/ppl doing paperwork to vote. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Embassy is on narrow street shaded by eucalyptus in shadow of monument to Leb civ war at min of defense: tanks embedded in concrete pillar. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Whole street blocked off, voters channeled thru lanes of plastic tape and metal detectors by Lebanese security. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

(Now continuing earlier tweets on Syria early voting in Lebanon. No signal in and around lone polling station at embassy in Baabda.) — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

One Lebanese guard spoke w/contempt of queuing Syrians: Don't get too close, you won't stand the smell, we'll have to call Red Cross for you — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Pandemonium inside. Embassy officials at long tables checking IDs. 100,000 preregistered to vote but doubtful they can in one day. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

People crushed into one small room, were handed flimsy glossy ballot w/ pix of three candidates. They borrowed our pens to mark their choice — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

talked to dozens, met no one voting for anyone but the president. Most said they're not refugees, live in Lebanon for work, study, marriage — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

But one guy from Jaramana said, "no need to lie, we came bc of the war, I will go back when there is security." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Charge d'affaires: only ppl who entered Leb legally at border posts can vote. That rules out many refugees, crossed all over porous border — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

But he said on June 3 ppl who crossed illegally can vote at border crossings. They have to pass Leb post but not Syrian one. Rules evolving? — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Said on June 3 ppl who failed to register can also vote. Said today you have to have registered by email fax or at embassy. But we saw guy/1 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Coming today not having registered earlier, they checked his ID and let him vote. Confusion even among poll workers on exact rules. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

For many there was a festival atmosphere. People waved Syrian flags and draped them over heard, chanted and cheered. Many Assad t-shirts — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Ahmed al-Ali from Aleppo marked ballot w/blood: "my blood type is Bashar." dabbed blood on his face. Restaurant worker, 16 (voting age 18). — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

One guy said "we were forced," then corrected: "it's natl duty." Some silent, grim but many seemed authentically enthusiastic. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014



In the above tweet, the Arabic of the man’s comment was a bit ambiguous; he could have meant “we had to come,” though being forced seemed to be the sense he conveyed. Regardless, numerous reports have surfaced of many individuals believing they were coerced to vote, or were voting out of fear of the repercussions were they not to do so.

A feeling of empowerment for pro- Assad Syrians, by far most visible mass gathering here in years. Whole Baabda hwy thronged w/ppl walking. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

One Syrian more used to oppo crowds saw red black and white flag and reflexively thought: they're going to burn it. Of course, they waved it — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

No green, black and white flag, syria's 1st independence flag adopted by oppo, anywhere in sight – oppo boycotting or feel unsafe in embassy — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Abu Hatem, 34, plumber from Raqqa, voted "of course" for Bashar. "The good days are gone…only he can bring Syria back to its proud days." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Businessman Abu Mohammad, 25, "I'm a reasonable guy, an intellectual. Bashar is a doctor, he's smart, he's peaceful." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Souad Abu Hilal, 25, beautician, "I eat bread Bashar brings to Syria.. ev country has mistake, Bashar is going to fix all our mistakes." /1 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Her t-shirt: Shabiha forever. She made it herself. She said no one forced her to come. /2 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Sheikh Abdullah Nawer al-Nazal al-Ghadani al-anazi, insisted he was 35, looked 60, in robes, works on "reconciliation": I vote for the best — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

First refused to say for whom, but when heard reporter was from Damascus said: "Bashar." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Now for some tweets on the voting process itself. Room 20x30m max is only polling place for more than 1 million Syrians in Leb. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

When you enter, on right are airbrushed, identically sized portraits of Assad and two obscure opponents, Hassan al-Nuri & Maher al-Hajjar. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Volunteers at door handed us flimsy, glossy handbills w color portraits of the 3 & circles under them. thought info handout – but was ballot — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

We could easily have voted ourselves. No check on who got them or how many times. Ppl filled them out in public, no closed booths. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Some people had poll workers – embassy workers and volunteers in syria flag caps – fill out their ballot. Wrote "yes" or put an x. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014



“Deal” should be “seal” in following tweet

Ppl put ballots in envelopes already stamped across the closure – some didn't bother to deal – and crowded around to stuff them into 4 boxes — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

In Damascus lately some activists at dawn left flyers around saying "don't vote." A small gesture to say some oppo still there. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

At beirut embassy ballot boxes, pushing and shoving as people navigate chaotic vote. Voters & embassy workers frazzled, hot, thirsty. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

In polling room crowd periodically broke into age-old chant: "with our souls, with our blood, we sacrifice for you, o Bashar!" — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Later, outside few blocks away, Syrian graphic design student using gas station toilet was asked why she walked uphill in sun to vote /1 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

She said "people came"-wouldn't say who – &said if u don't you may not be allowed into syria. She goes every month so didn't take chance./2 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Three others at gas station said similar in separate conversations. /3 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Did these ppl overinterpret what they were told out of own fears or was threat explicit? Hard to say, but telling either way. /4 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

A friend in srifa s lebanon (Hezb heartland): pro Assad Syrian workers there skipped vote to work, were confident they cd go back to syria/5 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

But another friend in beirut said her Syrian manicurists believed in the threats and felt they had to go vote /6 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Some voters said they preregistered to vote at a center run by Amal, Lebanese party allied w Hezbollah & Syria govt. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Syrians lining up to vote at embassy near Beirut. Lines started 5:30 am. Photo by @hwaidasaad pic.twitter.com/6h1B7QdAbi — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Putting ballots in boxes in early elections for Syrians in Lebanon. 4 boxes squeezed together in this room for >1m pic.twitter.com/sXpSdjws2H — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014



Anne relays the account of a Syrian who was jailed for 3 months for having delivered humanitarian aid, who explained to her why he wouldn’t vote:

He had the option since he is here legally. But he said this is not a matter of competing political views, "we are dealing with a killer." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Said he wouldnt vote for other 2 candidates – "how do you say clown in English?" He wd vote for a party w/platform not random individuals. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

He called it a "very painful" day for Syrians. Recalled voting for Assad in 2007, felt "in big prison, you cannot say no." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Said Assad voters must be afraid, ignorant or think their choice is betw Assad and ISIS. "They are simple people. I can be against both." — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Said he doesn't expect post elex reform. Iran won't allow, it would give their own people too many ideas. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

@ABarnardNYT @DamascusBureau @DavidKenner Syria is currently holding a more successful election in Lebanon than Lebanon is in Lebanon. — Samar Fares (@txtwxe) May 28, 2014

Lebanese annoyed with Syrian election traffic jams, asking why they didn't do this on a weekend. — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

#Syria ambassador in #Lebanon says embassy will remain open past midnight for voting due to "staggering" numbers of those wanting to do so — Sam Dagher (@samdagher) May 28, 2014

@nytimesworld @ABarnardNYT The election of exclusion: Christians & expats are excluded from running, refugees excluded from voting. — Syria Report (@SyriaReport) May 28, 2014

Worth noting: Leb authorities recently barred any political displays by Syrians here, to prevent clashes/problems ahead of elections. /1 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

but all along Baabda hwy today, political displays for Assad. None for other approved candidates, let alone other oppo/alternate Syr flag /2 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Leaving the crush around the ballot boxes, one older Syrian man said: "All this is not necessary. It is already done. "(he didn't explain) — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

Syrian govt not v electronic. I wonder, as do some anti-gov Syrians, if govt can really efficiently list voters at border & bar nonvoters/1 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

That said, if mere rumors & fears enough to convince people they have to vote or face consequences, gov maybe happy. its hands clean /2 — Anne Barnard (@ABarnardNYT) May 28, 2014

@ABarnardNYT @olireports In fact lots of the people I met couldn't remember the names of the other candidates — Ruth Sherlock (@Rsherlock) May 28, 2014

Think it funny to see photos of one candidate at a polling station?

There is almost as much military as there are voters, all in one hot messy scrum around #syria embassy. With #bashar posters on top — Ruth Sherlock (@Rsherlock) May 28, 2014

Staff and volunteers wear pro-#Assad clothes at polling booth in Beirut. #Syria election. pic.twitter.com/fMomnDH0i5 — Oliver Holmes (@olireports) May 28, 2014

#Syria election ballots. #Assad bit has been ripped off. Everyone I met said they voted for Assad. pic.twitter.com/Xz4nds2Dpn — Oliver Holmes (@olireports) May 28, 2014

Wow. RT @prashantrao: AFP barred from filming voting at Syrian embassy in Baghdad. Embassy staff said France's policy is 'against Syria'. — Liz Sly (@LizSly) May 28, 2014

Connoisseurs of Syrian presidential elections are arguing that the introduction of candidates has ruined the format's traditional minimalism — Karl Sharro (@KarlreMarks) May 28, 2014

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