page_title: 2014 Syrian presidential election
section_title: Expatriate voting
hierarchical_section_title: 2014 Syrian presidential election / Background / Expatriate voting
caption_attribution_description: English: Syrian expatriates in Iran, cast their ballot in Syrian embassy in Tehran.
context_page_description: Presidential elections were held in Syria on 3 June 2014. There is a scholarly consensus that the election was not democratic.
  Because of the Syrian Civil War which began in March 2011, Syria has the largest refugee population in the world and voting for refugees in certain foreign countries began at Syrian embassies several days before voting in Syria. Domestic and foreign-based Syrian opposition groups boycotted the election and the vote did not take place in large parts of Syria under rebel control. The areas under Kurdish militia control also did not allow voting due to the refusal of the government to recognize their claim for regional autonomy, though some people traveled to government–controlled areas to vote.
  Some rebel groups vowed to disrupt the elections in any way possible, including bombing and shelling polling stations and government-controlled areas. Another statement, issued by the Ajnad al-Sham Islamic Union, the Sham Corps, the Army of Mujahedeen and the Islamic Front, said they would not attack voters but warned people to stay at home "in case the Syrian government did"; there were 50 reported deaths from the shelling by the rebels.
caption: Expatriate voting at the Syrian embassy in Tehran (28 May 2014)
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